“Initially, when starting this project, Shaltay-Boltay was supposed to be a spokesman for the Anonymous International. Mainly, I was doing this job. Then, Anikeev started introducing himself to the reporters as Lewis and got everyone confused.” Alexander Glazastikov

Between October and December 2016, the Federal Security Service (FSB) have arrested Anonymous International/Shaltay-Boltay leader Vladimir Anikeev, his computer expert Alexander Glazastikov 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. 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. In recent days, Russian media have reported that the investigators suspect that some individuals of the 4th Department of the MIA (Ministry of Internal Affairs) may have cooperated with these “hackers”. There are also confusing and contradictory reports regarding Vitalina Zerny who is said to be the “wife” of Anikeev and/or his accomplice. 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. [Alexander Glazastikov has suggested that the story may be true, but Anikeev’s lawyer stated that the two cases are completely unrelated.] Also, it is not known at this point whether or not, this story is related to the “hack” of the 2016 US Presidential election. [Alexander Glazastikov claimed that the group did not hacked any US computers.]

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’. [Alexander Glazastikov claims that Anikeev is computer illiterate.] 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. RELATED POST: WHO IS Shaltay-Boltay? Ruslan Stoyanov

The deputy Director of the FSB Information Security Center — Department of Information Technology (DIT) — Dmitry Pravikov is currently under investigation.

Zhahongir Yuldashev was appointed as temporarily chief in charge of operations instead of Mikhailov, and Alexey Grachev was appointed as the Interim Head of the DIT to replace Dmitry Praviko . There is obviously a major crisis but the reasons remain unknown. Stay tuned.

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. The trial of the Shaltay Boltay group may begin in the spring 2017. (The trial of anyone charged with treason — Such as Colonel Sergey Mikhailov and his colleague Major Dmitry Dokuchaev– would not be public.)

Profile of Konstantin Teplyakov and Aleksandr Filimonov

IT EXPERTS (Really?) — Konstantin Teplyakov and Aleksandr Filinov worked under pseudonyms: Martovsky Zayats (‘March Hare’) and Shlyapnik (‘Mad Hatter’). Anikeev had invited them to his team. At first, they had worked on one-off projects before becoming full-time members of the group. They were engaged in processing whatever archives Anikeev has obtained, looking for compromising material. They also had a registered business in Thailand: Q Property Real Estate Agency.

HACKER’S PHONE HACKED — FSB officers managed to identify all the members of the hacker group via Vladimir Anikeev’s phone. The operation resulted in detention of Konstantin Teplyakov and Aleksandr Filinov. Ukrainian citizen Irina Shevchenko (‘Alice’), who is currently living in Kiev, is also on the “Wanted List” of the FSB.

ARREST — December 2016 (?)

LEGAL CHARGE — Both men are charged under part 3 of Art. 272 of the Criminal Code (Illegal Access to Computer Information) with the maximum prison sentence of five years.

CAVEAT — Glazastikov said he didn’t know another alleged group member, Alexander Filinov, who also was arrested. Filinov denies all charges against him. His detention has been ordered till April 2017.

TRIAL — Early spring 2017 (?)

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PS: I thought that this post would conclude the Shaltay Boltay members review. However, I just learned that Anikeev’s current wife is also wanted! (I have doubt about this information) and that the investigation is now targeting individuals of the MIA… Where does it stop?

VIDEO

REFERENCES

https://twitter.com/b0ltai

https://b0ltai.org/

FSB tracks Shaltay Boltay via Lewis’s phone — Crime RUSSIA

Shaltay-Boltay hacker: I don’t really care about technologies! Someone’s framed me — Crime RUSSIA

Vitalina Zerny suspected of involvement in Shaltay-Boltay is Anikeev’s civil wife — Crime RUSSIA

MIA 4th department being checked on involvement in Shaltay-Boltay — Crime