“Sergei Mikhailov, a top cybersecurity specialist in the FSB, and his deputy Dmitry Dokuchaev are being accused of breaking their oath and working with the CIA.” Interfax News Agency

Between October and December 2016, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has arrested Anonymous International/Shaltay-Boltay leader Vladimir Anikeev as well as two of his alleged accomplices Aleksandr Filinov and Konstantin Tepljakov. Vladimir Anikeev’s girlfriend Irina Shevchenko is on the “wanted list”. The FSB has also arrested Ruslan Stoyanov, the former head of Kaspersky Lab’s Computer Incident Investigation Department. Last but not least, the FSB has arrested colonel Sergey Mikhailov and his colleague Major Dmitry Dokuchaev, both senior officers of the 2nd Operational Management of FSB Information Security Center. Follow us on Twitter: @Intel_Today

WARNING — The arrest of the high-ranking officers of the Federal Security Service – Sergey Mikhaylov and Dmitry Dokuchayev may or may not be connected with the case of the Shaltay Boltay hack group. Also, it is not known at this point whether or not, this story is related to the “hack” of the 2016 US Presidential election.

Indeed on February 5 2017, Russian media reported that Anikeev has pleaded guilty to unauthorized access to computer information. According to Anikeev’s lawyer Ruslan Koblev:

Anikeev confirmed he is the hacker known as ‘Lewis’ Anikeev now denies knowing FSB high-ranking officers Colonel Sergey Mikhailov and Major Dmitry Dokuchaev. [This is a bit strange for it has been assumed so far that Anikeev had pointed Mikhailov to the investigators after his arrest in October 2016. But, even if this information is true, it does not rule out the possibility that Mikhailov was ‘using’ Anikeev since he acknowledged that he did not always know who he was working for.] Anikeev is charged only with part 3 of Article 272 (Illegal Access to Computer Information). Anikeev claims that the arrests of the FSB officers and Kaspersky Lab employee — charged with treason — have nothing to do with his case.

This series will focus on the profiles of the — known — individuals wanted or arrested so far, as well as those who may be arrested in the near future. Their suspected crimes and the global timeline of this affair will also be detailed in two other posts. These posts will be updated whenever additional information is made available.

Profile of FSB Colonel Sergey Mikhailov

Sergey Mikhailov is a former FSB Colonel. Mikhailov was Chief of the 2nd Operational Management of FSB Information Security Center (ISC).

ARREST — He was detained in December 2016. Mikhailov was detained at a board meeting — escorted out of the room with a bag thrown over his head.

LEGAL CHARGE — Sergey Mikhailov has been charged under Art. 275 of the Criminal Code (High treason). Mikhailov has always denied the charge of treason. He allegedly admitted passing information to a third-party but now deny this accusation as well.

CRIMES — Being accused of treason, the case is classified. It is not known exactly what crimes he is suspected of having committed. Here are some of the allegations that were reported in the Russian media.

CRIME A — Investigators believe that he was involved in a document theft from the Ministry of Defense. Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu personally initiated the investigation of the hackers. CRIME B — According to Anikeev’s testimony, Mikhailov oversaw Shaltay-Boltay. The FSB senior officer supplied hackers with information regarding government dignitaries or officials. The hackers would then demand a ransom from these individual. In case of refusal, they would sell this information for bitcoins through Ukraine and published it on the web. CRIME C — He is accused of leaking information to the U.S. intelligence community.

At this point, it would appear that ‘CRIME A’ is the most likely one charged against Colonel Mikhailov. Indeed, it seems likely that Mikhailov was passing information to Kaspersky Lab employee Ruslan Stoyanov and probably one more not yet named expert on computer security in exchange for money. Then, the information would be sold to intermediaries abroad, and eventually passed on to foreign intelligence services (probably but not necessarily the CIA). Russian media suggests that Colonel Mikhailov may have been selling information for at least seven years.

MONEY — Security forces raided a country house and Moscow apartments belonging to Mikhailov. They found about 12 million dollars in cash.

VIDEO

REFERENCES

https://twitter.com/b0ltai

https://b0ltai.org/

Sergey Mikhailov — Crime RUSSIA

12 million dollars found at FSB ex-officer and founder of Shaltay-Boltay — Crime RUSSIA

FSB ISC officer Mikhailov arrested for treason retracts confessions — Crime RUSSIA