On March 22, 2022, the court rejected the appeal of Sachkov's lawyers against the lower court's decision to extend his arrest until May 28.

Sachkov's defense explained that Ilya asked the court to release him and allow him to work during the investigation. “Watching the ongoing events, I understand that Russia needs it now more than ever, and I ask you to release me from custody for the period of investigation in order to be able to work and use my competencies for the good of the country,” Sachkov wrote in a statement to the Court of Appeal. The court also rejected this application.

According to Interfax, Yuri Maksimov, the founder of Positive Technologies, proposed to release Sachkov from the pre-trial detention center. He did this at an expanded meeting of the State Duma Committee on the development of the IT industry under sanctions. His request was ignored.

Ilya Sachkov has been in a pre-trial detention center for 6 months from the end of September 2021. In his free time, he does yoga and other sports exercises in a confined space, and also tries to read professional literature and books on self-development available in the SIZO library. Ilya even writes two of his books - one for children, the second about the creation of Group-IB.

Ilya Sachkov is accused of giving away information constituting a state secret, according to the conclusion of the Lefortovo court in this case. Currently, investigative actions continue with Sachkov.

Sachkov's lawyer explained that Ilya does not plead guilty, and the criminal case against his client is not related to the activities of Group-IB.

According to media sources, the investigating authorities have information that Sachkov worked for foreign intelligence services and passed them materials that constitute state secrets in the field of cybersecurity in Russia. The names of the countries in the interests of the investigation, the sources did not disclose. Media sources said that the Sachkov case is being conducted by a group of investigators who previously worked with Paul Whelan, who was detained in Moscow in December 2019 for obtaining a flash drive with classified data.

The criminal case against Sachkov (an individual, not the head of the company) was initiated at the end of September under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Treason” and received No. 3/1-0142/2021. The maximum penalty under this article is 20 years in prison. Lawyers for the head of Group-IB Sachkov appealed against his arrest and insist on his innocence. According to the press service of the Moscow City Court, the materials of the Sachkov case are classified as “secret”.

Sachkov's defense revealed that he does not admit guilt, but gives testimony to the investigation and investigative actions are constantly being carried out with him.

Chronology of developments in relation to Group-IB and Sachkov

Searchs

On September 28, searches were carried out at the Moscow headquarters of Group-IB for Russia and the CIS from morning until late evening. Investigative measures were supervised by FSB officers.

Detention

On September 28, in the morning, law enforcement authorities detained the founder and CEO of the company, Ilya Sachkov, on the basis of a Moscow court order.

Detention

On September 29, the Lefortovo Court of Moscow sent the founder and CEO of Group-IB Ilya Sachkov into custody at the request of the investigator until November 27 (for 1 month and 30 days). The decision of the court entered into force on 28 September.

Treason

According to the indictment, Sachkov is suspected by law enforcement agencies under Article 275 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Treason”. The maximum penalty for this offense is 20 years in prison.

The criminal case against Sachkov has been classified as "secret", its materials will not be available to the media during the investigation and during the court hearings.

Proclaimed not guilty

Sachkov refused to admit accusations of treason and cooperation with the special services of foreign states. He stated that he does not plead guilty to the transfer of classified data to foreign intelligence.

Colleague support

Group-IB said it was confident that its founder, Ilya Sachkov, was innocent. Group-IB lawyers have already begun studying the case materials available to them and the decision of the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow in relation to Sachkov. On September 29, Dmitry Volkov took over the leadership of Group-IB for the near future, while the process against the founder and CEO of the company, Ilya Sachkov, is ongoing.

Special services

The media revealed that the founder and CEO of Group-IB, Ilya Sachkov, is suspected by military counterintelligence officers from the FSB of working for the special services of several countries. According to media sources, the investigating authorities have information that he worked for foreign intelligence services and handed them materials that constitute state secrets in the field of cybersecurity in Russia. The names of the countries in the interests of the investigation, the sources did not disclose.

SIZO

On October 1, Ilya Sachkov was sent to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center. The Russian special services and the prosecutor's office carried out all the necessary investigative actions against the businessman within 2 days after his arrest. He was placed in a two-week quarantine, and members of the Public Monitoring Commission could not get to Sachkov.

Appeal

On October 1, lawyers for the head of Group-IB Sachkov appealed against his arrest. The appeal was considered by the court on 21 October.

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Dmitry Volkov continued the development course of the company led by Sachkov

On October 5, Group-IB co-owner Dmitry Volkov said that the company continues to work, will not change its current strategy and is going to work even more with international customers.

Sachkov's mother wrote to the President

On October 6, Sachkov's mother wrote an open letter to the President of Russia, in which she asks to "honestly look into the matter", name the reasons for the accusation of treason and release her son, since he could not "betray the motherland." A Kremlin spokesman said that the Russian administration had not yet seen a letter to the president from the mother of the founder of Group-IB, Ilya Sachkov. They are asked to wait for the completion of the investigative actions and the trial on this matter, since the president has no right to interfere in the affairs of the investigation.

Treason charged

On October 7, 2021, the investigation charged Ilya Sachkov, the founder of Group-IB, with high treason.

Prohibitions in SIZO

On October 18, 2021, human rights activists visited Sachkov in the pre-trial detention center and told about the hardships he experiences there.

Complaint dismissed

On October 21, 2021, the Moscow City Court rejected the complaint of the company's lawyers against the arrest of Group-IB founder Ilya Sachkov on charges of issuing information constituting a state secret. According to the conclusion of the Lefortovo court in this case, he will be kept in a pre-trial detention center until November 27, unless the inquiry authorities request an additional extension of this period.

Working SIM restored by the company

In mid-October, Sachkov's acquaintances began to report on social networks that the phone number of the founder of Group-IB was used to register on Telegram. The press service of Group-IB confirmed to Forbes that the messenger was entered from Sachkov's number. “This is a restored corporate SIM card, and the account itself is under the control of Group-IB. All personal accounts of Ilya in social networks are also maintained by the Group-IB team, ”the company explained. The company did not explain the reason for the restoration of the SIM card.

Problems in the SIZO

On November 2, 2021, human rights activists visited Sachkov in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center for the second time. According to them, he has been in the cell for more than 30 days, during which he was not provided with the necessary medical assistance, medicines were not provided, and letters from relatives were not handed over.

Extension of arrest

On November 23, 2021, the Lefortovo Court of Moscow granted the petition of the investigation and extended the term of detention of Group-IB founder Ilya Sachkov for another three months. He will remain in the SIZO until February 28, 2022. Sachkov has been at Lefortovo since September 28. On the same day, the lawyer said that Ilya had turned to the President of Russia with a request to facilitate his transfer to house arrest. According to the defense, Ilya feels well, in the pre-trial detention center he began to receive letters and correspondence, which he had not previously been provided with. In addition, according to the defender, Sachkov was given all the necessary medicines, due to the lack of which he had health problems.

Bloomberg guesses

On December 3, 2021, the Bloomberg publication said that Sachkov's arrest may be related to the transfer of data on hacker attacks by the Fancy Bear group on American structures. Experts abroad believe that these attackers have Russian roots. Ilya's lawyer called the assumptions of the American edition "guesses and conjectures without evidence."

Appeal denied

On December 16, the Moscow City Court upheld the extension of the arrest of Group-IB founder Ilya Sachkov until February 28, 2022. Also, according to the lawyer, the court of appeal refused to change the preventive measure for Sachkov to house arrest.

Ilya Sachkov recorded a video a year before his arrest in case of his arrest or death

At the end of December last year, the media reported that Sachkov recorded a video a year ago in case of his arrest or death. He forwarded the video to his family and friends. In it, Sachkov says that he is being followed, and he fears that unknown persons will kill him. Sachkov also suggested that law enforcement agencies could accuse him of treason and arrest him.

Extension of arrest until May 28, 2022

On February 23, the court extended the arrest of Ilya Sachkov until May 28, 2022.

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