$740 USDT and a charge of terrorism: IT director from Moscow under investigation
Law enforcement agencies have completed their investigation and brought final charges against DiHouse IT director Yuri Belenky. The case is unprecedented: the top manager is accused of financing terrorism through cryptocurrency transfers, with the amount that triggered the criminal case being only 740 USDT — just over 62,000 rubles at the current exchange rate.
Details of the criminal prosecution
The investigation alleges that Belenky made at least seven transactions from his cryptocurrency address between January 2023 and March 2024. According to the prosecution, all funds were intended to finance the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a terrorist organization banned in Russia. The defendant categorically denies his guilt. His defense has already called the process "unique": according to the lawyers, this is the first criminal case in the Moscow region involving sponsorship of terrorism where the key evidence consists exclusively of virtual assets.
Timeline and procedural status
The criminal case was opened on October 10, 2025, against a 40-year-old Moscow resident who was taken into custody last fall. The materials collected by the investigation amount to two volumes. Notably, the case file includes only a positive reference from the defendant's workplace. A hearing on the defense's appeal, which requested that the IT director be placed under house arrest citing unjustified delays by the prosecution, has already been held at the Moscow City Court. The court ruled that the extension of his detention until July 10 was lawful. Lawyers confirmed the completion of the preliminary investigation but declined further comments on the nuances of the case.
Expert commentary: This case is a clear indicator of how Russian law enforcement practice is beginning to actively incorporate cryptocurrency transactions into classic criminal offenses, including particularly serious ones. The amount of 740 USDT, which in ordinary life is negligible for the business environment, here becomes a legal tool. This creates enormous risks for all market participants, regardless of their actual intentions. We are witnessing the formation of a dangerous precedent where the mere fact of transferring stablecoins to an "unreliable" address can be interpreted as financing terrorism.