Military equipment in Russia accused of explaining Greek businessman, who was arrested on May 9 in Paris on a US warrant. it’s about him Nikolaos Bogonicolo, president of a group of companies based in Greece and the Netherlands. His arrest was announced yesterday by the US Attorney’s Office and the US Department of Justice.

“Working as a NATO partner, the defendant and his company helped Russia develop a new generation of weapons,” said New York District Attorney Breon Peace, among other things. “The allegations demonstrate our consistent commitment to keeping sensitive technology products out of the hands of our adversaries such as Russia, China and Iran,” a US Justice Department spokesman said. Bogonikolos also has contacts with leaders Greek armed forces And her Greek police. There are reports on the Internet that he donated an underwater vehicle to the Navy, while allegedly supplying EL.AS. with body armor.

US edition

Businessman Nikolaos Bogonikolos was arrested on May 9 in Paris on a warrant issued by the US Department of Justice.

Since the day of his arrest in Paris, Nikolaos Bogonikolos has remained a prisoner, and legal procedures are already underway for his extradition to the United States on the basis of a warrant. The investigation against him began in 2018 with American FBIas follows from the testimony of the service officer.

A warrant for his arrest was posted yesterday on the US Department of Justice website, and his actions are detailed on page 21. In short, the Greek businessman allegedly did business with two companies based in Russia. He even purchased materials and technological products for dual civilian and military purposes from companies in the United States, which he then exported to Russia.

The Russian companies listed in the warrant and operating, according to the US, under the direction of Russian intelligence agencies, are Sernia Engineering and Sertal. In March 2022, just weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine, both companies were placed on the US sanctions list. Bogonikolos, who in June 2021 announced his company’s participation in a NATO research program, is accused of smuggling dual technology materials from the US to Russia on behalf of the Sernia network of companies. Official court documents cite a number of emails intercepted as part of the investigation that Bogonikolos exchanged with his Russian counterparts.

It appears from the contents of the messages that the arrested Greek knew that the items he was trading were subject to export restrictions from the United States. As an example, the US authorities cite an email in which the head of Sernia asks him to personally attend a scheduled meeting in Moscow, given that “the agenda for discussion will be very sensitive.” In another email, Bogonikulu’s Russian interlocutor instructs him to contact a specific company executive in Moscow for security reasons, with him being understanding, replying that he understands these are “secret matters”.

Among the materials accused by Bogonikolos of being smuggled into Russia are military antennas. In 2018 and 2020, he is accused of purchasing tactical military antennas from a company based in Florida, USA, on behalf of the Sernia group. As part of the investigation, the US judicial authorities reviewed the sales documents and found that they falsely listed Bogonicoulou’s interests in the Netherlands as the final recipient of the disputed cargoes, and not “Sernia”.

Official court documents also indicate that the arrested Greek undertook to purchase in 2021 in California, the United States and export to Russia the technological systems used to develop quantum computers. The delivery was ordered by a large educational and research organization in Russia. The warrant also mentions Bogoniculu’s participation in a program called the 1851 Project, which was run by a university specializing in nuclear research.

For the needs of the program, the arrested Greek undertook to purchase transponders from companies in France and North Carolina. His emails were recorded instructing his employees to list his company as the final recipient of the materials, given that their trade is subject to severe restrictions. Amphiteas Avenue in the Paleo Faliros area is listed as the headquarters of Nikolaos Bogonikoulou’s company.