According to the latest report, Anatoly Legkodymov, co-founder of crypto platform Bitzlato, has officially requested a pardon from United States President Donald Trump. Legkodymov, a Russian national, was arrested and charged with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business through his cryptocurrency platform, Bitzlato.

After his arrest in January 2023, Legkodymov submitted a guilty plea to one charge of running an unlicensed money-transmitting business in December 2023. On July 18, 2024, a US Judge sentenced the defunct crypto exchange co-founder to time served after spending 18 months in detention at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre (MDC).

Co-Founder Seeks Pardon To Avoid French Extradition? 

In a July 11 report by a Russian media outlet, Ivan Melnikov, vice president of the Russian branch of the International Committee for Human Rights, revealed that Legkodymov has officially asked Trump for a federal pardon. According to Melnikov, this move comes as the French authorities try to extradite the Bitzlato co-founder to France.

Reports suggest that the French authorities are trying to extradite Legkodymov to face similar charges of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The Russian engineer faces up to 20 years in France for allowing the transfer of significant funds connected to cyber crimes and attacks.

Melnikov told the Russian outlet:

Anatoly is not a criminal; he became a target in a political campaign against the crypto market and talented Russian programmers. His decision to ask for a pardon is based on the hope that the US will return to a more balanced and fair approach to digital finance, and that the US and Russia will gradually build dialogue.

This request might

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Author: Opeyemi Sule