Sergei Matsotsky, a co-founder of Russian IT giant IBS and a leading figure in the country’s tech sector, has been arrested in absentia on large-scale bribery charges, a Moscow court announced Friday.
The Basmanny District Court said Matsotsky had left Russia prior to the ruling. Details of the charges have not been disclosed.
Matsotsky, who played a key role in building Russia’s domestic IT industry, faces accusations of paying a large bribe, according to the Moscow court system’s press service.
Matsotsky and his IBS co-founder Anatoly Karachinsky split their business holdings in 2020, with Matsotsky launching GS-Invest, a holding company focused on software development and systems integration.
He maintained close business ties with Russian state-linked firms, including negotiations with Gazprombank to create a joint IT venture.
In 2021, Matsotsky partnered with former Rostelecom executive Andrey Cheglakov to launch a project known as Rusim.
He also took ownership of L2U, a Russian firm specializing in IT support software. L2U’s clientele includes Matsotsky-linked companies like Budget and Financial Technologies and Rubitech as well as other organizations including LokoBank, Bank Soft Systems, Notamedia and Handysoft.
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.
