Russia Plans to Seize $3 Billion in Assets Linked to Former Interior Ministry Officials in WEX Exchange Bribery Case

According to Jinse Finance, Cryptopolitan reports that Russian prosecutors are seeking to confiscate assets worth over 2.1 billion rubles (about $300 million) from former Interior Ministry official Georgy Satyukov. Satyukov is accused of accepting bribes from WEX cryptocurrency exchange administrator Alexey Ivanov, receiving 2,119.5 bitcoins and 10,016 ether.

Between 2019 and 2021, Satyukov led the K Department, which specialized in investigating financial fraud and cybercrime. His luxury assets include 13 apartments, commercial real estate, luxury cars, and $1.3 million worth of luxury goods. WEX exchange was the successor to BTC-e and lost about $450 million in cryptocurrency due to a lack of anti-money laundering measures.

Satyukov is currently at large and internationally wanted, with the first court hearing scheduled for December 8, 2025. If convicted, his assets will be transferred to the Russian state treasury.