Russia arrests senior police officer over data leak to Ukrainian intelligence

In the Russian industrial city of Magnitogorsk, authorities have detained a senior police officer on suspicion of abusing his official powers and leaking sensitive personal data. 

Officers from Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) arrested Police Lieutenant Colonel Ilya Afonasenko, who headed an interregional unit responsible for countering extremism, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media. 

Investigators suspect Afonasenko of illegally accessing the Interior Ministry’s integrated database in exchange for payment. He is alleged to have collected personal data on Russian citizens and passed it to an acquaintance, who then reportedly relayed the information to Ukrainian intelligence services.

Searches were carried out at the officer’s workplace and residence. Authorities have opened a criminal case under a charge of “abuse of official authority with aggravating circumstances,” which carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in prison under Russian law.

The case follows another recent arrest in the Chelyabinsk Oblast.

Earlier, the FSB detained the head of a department overseeing legal entities within the regional branch of the Federal Bailiff Service (FSSP). Investigators allege that the official provided criminals with personal data from the agency’s databases concerning private individuals.

By Sabina Mammadli