Lawyer Alexey Tarasov, representing Yuri Martyshev, who is imprisoned in the United States for cyber fraud, confirmed on Tuesday, December 20, that the process of deporting the Russian national to the Russian Federation has commenced.
Speaking to the Zvezda TV channel, Tarasov stated, “Today marks the last day of Yuri Martyshev’s imprisonment. Within the next 48 hours, he is expected to be transferred to an immigration detention facility, from where he will eventually be taken to the airport and returned to his home country.”
Tarasov added that the deportation procedure for Martyshev is set to begin today.
He clarified that this is not an exchange with the United States but rather that Martyshev’s prison term has concluded. Tarasov expressed hope for a swift return, as reported by RT.
“Yuri is eager to return home as soon as possible, where his mother awaits him. I hope they will be able to spend the holidays together,” Tarasov concluded.
Nadezhda Shumova, head of the consular department of the Russian Embassy in Washington, also mentioned that the Russian Embassy in the U.S. is making every effort to expedite Martyshev’s return. Additionally, the consulate is taking charge of issuing a return certificate for Martyshev. Currently, the Russian diplomatic mission is coordinating with American authorities to arrange a meeting with Martyshev to issue this certificate.
It was previously announced on December 6 that Martyshev would be released on December 20, following the completion of his federal sentence, and is expected to be deported to Russia thereafter.
In April 2019, Martyshev was sentenced in Alexandria, Virginia, to 6.5 years in prison for cyber crimes impacting companies and individuals in the U.S. He is also required to pay over $8 million in restitution to the victims. Initially, Martyshev did not plead guilty but later agreed to a plea deal with the prosecution.
His sentence has been calculated from the time of his arrest in spring 2017 in Latvia, from where he was extradited to the United States.
Source: Izvestia, December 20, 2022
Attorney Confirmed the Beginning of Yuri Martyshev’s Deportation Process
