According to reports from local media outlet Kommersant, a Russian government official has been accused of accepting over 1,000 BTC (~ $28 million) in a bribery scandal. This incident has been deemed one of the most substantial instances of bribery in the country.
The case involving Marat Tambiev, a Russian government official, has taken a significant turn with prosecutors uncovering evidence of bitcoin bribes while investigating allegations of corruption against him. It has been revealed that Tambiev is the owner of a substantial amount of bitcoin — specifically 1,032.1 BTC.
The investigation has shed light on the events that transpired.
On April 7, 2022, Tambiev received the bitcoin from members of the Infraud Organization hacker group. Interestingly, this transaction occurred while Tambiev was actively involved in investigating the very same members of the group. He allegedly accepted the substantial payment in bitcoin in exchange for not seizing their assets.
Marat Tambiev held the position of the head of an investigative department for the Committee for the Tver district of Moscow when he received these funds from the hackers. The revelation of his involvement in corruption has resulted in the termination of his employment.
The severity and impact of his actions have made this particular case stand out as a glaring example of corruption within the country.
Amid the increased adoption and usage of bitcoin, Russia is among several countries contemplating regulatory measures in this domain. The country has been exploring ways to incorporate digital assets into its financial system, particularly for cross-border transactions.
In a recent development, Rosbank, one of Russia’s largest banks, has successfully executed cross-border transactions using digital assets. This achievement comes in the wake of the Russian central bank’s efforts to facilitate the use of bitcoin for international transfers.
Russia’s inclination towards bitcoin stems partly from the significant sanctions imposed by Western nations following its invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions have motivated Russia to explore alternative financial avenues, and bitcoin has emerged as a potential solution.
