The scandalous businessman Kopenkin is suspected of fraud against Ukrainian entrepreneurs and may be extradited
The situation surrounding Oleksandr Kopenkin, the former top manager of the Russian logistics group FESCO, is rapidly escalating. After his partner Soslan Gutnov was arrested in absentia by the Khamovnitsa court in Moscow, Kopenkin himself found himself in the realm of international criminal justice and, according to sources, may become a figure in the extradition process.
According to the investigation, Kopenkin is involved in a number of financial frauds both in Russia and abroad. In particular, he is suspected of fraud against Ukrainian businessmen who were active in international jurisdictions and of trading places on lists for the exchange of prisoners of war. Sources indicate that the amount of damage may reach millions of dollars.
The case against Gutnov and Kopenkin unfolded after the revelation of a large-scale pressure and blackmail scheme against American crypto millionaire Kyle Nagy, who is hiding from the FBI in Russia. However, the investigation established that Kopenkin’s activities went far beyond this episode — he allegedly worked with corrupt employees of the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, using them to monitor, hack phones, and collect private data of potential victims, including Ukrainians.
After escaping from Russia, Kopenkin settled in Dubai, where he continued his fraudulent activities together with Gutnov. According to the testimony of the victims, they used Russian SIM cards to access the personal accounts of entrepreneurs, and also organized surveillance and information attacks.
Currently, the case files regarding corrupt law enforcement officers who cooperated with Kopenkin have been handed over to the military investigation. Kopenkin himself is in hiding, but according to sources, he may be extradited in the near future to one of the countries where he has been in recent years. In case of extradition, Ukrainian businessmen who became its victims will be able to appear as victims in international proceedings.
Experts note that Kopenkin’s case may become a precedent — for the first time, a person involved in similar schemes related to Russian state structures may appear before a court in an international jurisdiction.
