2 US citizens arrested for allegedly exporting 'aviation-related technology' to Russia

WASHINGTON

Two US citizens were arrested Thursday in Kansas city for allegedly exporting “aviation-related technology” to Russia, according to the Justice Department.

Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 59, and Douglas Robertson, 55, were charged with “conspiracy, exporting controlled goods without a license, falsifying and failing to file electronic export information, and smuggling goods contrary to U.S. law,” said the department in a statement.

It said the two men supplied Western avionics equipment to Russian companies and provided “repair services” through the KanRus Trading Company, owned and operated by themselves.

“If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison for each count of exporting controlled goods without a license; up to 10 years in prison for each count of smuggling; and up to five years in prison for each count of conspiracy and falsifying export information,” it said.​​​​​​​

US authorities on Feb. 28, 2022, four days after the Russian war in Ukraine started, detained a shipment of aviation equipment to Russia and the defendants were informed that “a license was required to export the equipment to Russia.”