Latvian arrested for smuggling US aircraft technology to Russia

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - Authorities in Latvia have arrested a Latvian man accused in the US of supplying advanced avionics components to Russia, local media reported Friday.

Oleg Chistyakov, 55, is charged with crimes related to a years-long conspiracy to sell sophisticated avionics equipment to Russian companies, in violation of US export laws, the Department of Justice confirmed in a Friday’s statement.

Chistyakov is the third to be arrested and charged in connection with the conspiracy “led by a Kansas company and two U.S. nationals," said the statement.

The accused allegedly conspired with another two US citizens Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky and Douglas Edward Robertson, of Kansas, “to facilitate the sale, repair and shipment of U.S. avionics equipment to customers in Russia and in other countries that operate Russian-built aircraft, including the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB),” it added.

“As alleged, Mr. Chistyakov facilitated hundreds of thousands of dollars in illicit transactions to funnel sophisticated U.S. aerospace technology to companies in Russia,” said Assistant Attorney General Matthew Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.

“This arrest is another example of the Justice Department’s unwavering mission to hold accountable those who enable Russian aggression, including those involved in facilitation networks that fuel the Russian war effort,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce Matthew Axelrod for Export Enforcement.

Chistyakov was arrested on March 19 near Riga and remains detained pending extradition to the US, according to Latvian media LSM.