Ilya Sachkov

Career

Ilya Sachkov founded Group-IB, a cybersecurity company specializing in the detection and prevention of cyberattacks, at the age of 17 while studying at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University. The company grew into a significant player in the global cybersecurity industry, and Sachkov, according to the Financial Times, "attempted to build a global business while remaining on the good side of the Russian government."

In June 2017, Sachkov was appointed a Commissioner in the Global Commission on the Stability of Cyberspace, an international multistakeholder body established to develop diplomatic norms against national cyberattacks. He served in that role until the commission concluded its work in November 2019. That same year, he received an award from Russian President Vladimir Putin in recognition of his contributions to cybersecurity.

Views on Russian Government Handling of Cybercrime

Sachkov was publicly critical of the Russian government's response to ransomware attacks originating from within Russia. At a panel attended by Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, he cited Maksim Yakubets as an example of what he characterized as the government's apparent tolerance of certain online criminals. His criticism on this subject continued until his arrest by the FSB in September 2021.

Detention and Conviction on Treason Charges

In September 2021, Sachkov was detained by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on treason charges. In a statement released through his lawyer to Forbes Russia in November 2021, Sachkov denied the allegations, stating he is "neither a traitor nor a spy," and appealed to President Putin to transfer him to house arrest while awaiting trial, after his detention was extended by three months.

Russian businessman Boris Titov publicly called for investigators to explain the charges, warning that a lack of transparency would deal a "critical blow" to the sector. Russian state news agency TASS stated that case materials were classified and that no further details were available.

Group-IB co-founder Dmitry Volkov, who assumed the role of chief executive following Sachkov's detention, stated that the company did not know the specifics of the charges and was convinced of Sachkov's innocence. Volkov noted that the classified nature of the case materials created "fertile ground for rumours and speculations."

Bloomberg News reported allegations that Sachkov had provided information to western intelligence agencies about Vladislav Klyushin, the founder of another cybersecurity company who was arrested in Switzerland in March 2021. Bloomberg also reported allegations that Sachkov had provided the U.S. government with information about the Russian government's "Fancy Bear" operation, which was alleged to have sought to influence the 2016 United States presidential election. The Financial Times additionally reported that, according to Russian outlet RBC, a lawyer for Sergei Mikhailov — a former senior FSB cyber official convicted of treason — claimed Sachkov had given false testimony contributing to that conviction.

In June 2023, the case was transferred to the Moscow City Court for consideration on the merits. On July 25, 2023, the court sentenced Sachkov to 14 years in prison during an in camera session. The sentence represented a reduction from the state prosecutor's original request of 18 years.