The person at the center of this case
United States (sanctions violations and export control crimes)
Cold Case · Open - Fugitive at Large
3 years waiting · since 2023
ILYA VIKTOROVICH BALAKAEV
Justice for United States (sanctions violations and export control crimes) — the trail went cold in 2023, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Where is Balakaev currently located? Known ties to Finland, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, UAE, and North Korea suggest possible safe havens.
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What specific spectrum analyzers and signal generators were purchased, and can the supply chain network of U.S. contacts be fully mapped?
📞
contact
Lead #3Who were the individuals in the United States that assisted Balakaev in purchasing the restricted equipment?
Ilya Viktorovich Balakaev, a Russian national, allegedly orchestrated a sophisticated sanctions-evasion scheme between 2017 and 2023, using a network of U.S. contacts to purchase restricted electronic equipment for the Russian FSB's counterintelligence operations. He is also accused of illegally providing American technology to North Korean government officials, violating U.S. sanctions on both Russia and North Korea. A federal arrest warrant was issued on February 21, 2023, but Balakaev remains at large with known ties to multiple countries including Finland, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, the UAE, and North Korea.
Case
#902
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4What is the identity and current status of the First Secretary of the North Korean Embassy to Russia who contracted with Balakaev?
💡
clue
Lead #5What counterintelligence operations did the FSB conduct using the repaired equipment, and were any U.S. operations or personnel compromised?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Defraud the United States; Conspiracy to Violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA); Conspiracy to Violate the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA); Smuggling Goods from the United States Caution: Between 2017 and the present, Ilya Viktorovich Balakaev allegedly entered into multiple contracts through his company, Radiotester LLC, with the FSB—the principal intelligence and security agency of the Russian government—to repair spectrum analyzers and signal generators. These devices were frequently used as part of alleged counterintelligence operations to sweep for surveillance bugs and transmit covert communications.
As the devices were not readily available in Russia, Balakaev allegedly created a network of individuals in the United States to assist him in purchasing the equipment which he then used to repair the FSB devices, in violation of United States sanctions. Balakaev allegedly worked closely with Russian government officials from FSB Center 8’s Military Unit 43753, the agency responsible for Russia’s communication security and cryptology.
In furtherance of his scheme, he allegedly entered into at least 10 contracts with FSB Military Unit 43753, purchased approximately 43 devices in the United States, and traveled to the United States approximately 14 times in the span of approximately four years. In addition to his alleged scheme to evade Russian sanctions, Balakaev also allegedly provided American technology to a North Korean government official, in violation of United States sanctions against North Korea.
Balakaev allegedly contracted with the First Secretary of the North Korean Embassy to the Russian Federation, based in Moscow, to obtain hazardous gas detectors and software from the United States for the benefit of the North Korean government. On February 21, 2023, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Balakaev in the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn, New York, after he was charged with multiple counts of counterintelligence-related crimes.
Remarks: Balakaev has ties to Finland, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates, and North Korea. He speaks Russian and English.
Timeline of Events
📞
2017
Scheme Begins
Balakaev allegedly begins entering contracts with FSB Center 8's Military Unit 43753 through his company Radiotester LLC
📋
2017-2023
Ongoing Smuggling Operations
Approximately 43 spectrum analyzers and signal generators purchased in the United States; approximately 14 trips to the U.S. over four years
🕵️
2023-02-21
Federal Arrest Warrant Issued
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York issues warrant for Balakaev on multiple counterintelligence-related charges
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2017
Last Updated:May 13, 2026
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2017
Last Updated:May 13, 2026