U.S. authorities have charged a man from Moscow with trying to buy thermal-imaging rifle sights and export them to Russia without a license, a news report said.
Roman Kvinikadze, a 32-year-old Moscow resident, initially contacted a man he thought was a weapons company representative over the Internet to ask about buying thermal sights made by American Technologies Network, U.S. security agent Ramzi Aly said in a written statement to the court.
Kvinikadze and an unidentified Russian acquaintance then met with the contact, who turned out to be an undercover U.S. Department of Homeland Security agent posing as an arms sales representative, at a trade show for weapons and accessories manufacturers in Las Vegas, Aly testified, The Associated Press reported Monday.
The undercover agent told the men that the rifle sights were restricted for export, but that there were ways to ship them without a license, the statement said.
Kvinikadze and the undercover agent worked out a system to ship the weapons through Prague, the Czech Republic, according to Aly's statement. As a good-faith payment, Kvinikadze wired $1,000 to an undercover bank account in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and then traveled from Russia to Wyoming in June to inspect the sights and finalize the purchase, Aly said.
Kvinikadze was arrested during a meeting with undercover federal agents in Wyoming, his lawyer Ronald Pretty said.
Pretty said that his client planned to legally export the sights to Russia, where they would be sold mainly to hunters. "He didn't break the law in any way shape or form," he added.
Kvinikadze is to stand trial in February in Cheyenne and faces up to 25 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to violate the Arms Export Control Act and attempting to export munitions without a license.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
