Binance Data Used as Evidence in Russian Terrorism-Financing Case
Russian authorities have obtained evidence from Binance to support terrorism-financing charges against Yuri Belenkiy, who allegedly sent over $700 in cryptocurrency donations to Ukrainian military groups.
The Investigative Committee alleged that between January 2023 and March 2024, Belenkiy made payments to the Azov Regiment, which Moscow designates as a terrorist organization. Binance provided Belenkiy's identity documents and transaction records to Russian authorities.
Mike Bystrov, founder of Stellar Consulting, stated that Binance may have had an obligation not to provide the data under European Union data protection law, specifically the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Binance has maintained that it cooperates with lawful information requests from law enforcement globally and fully exited Russia in 2023.