This is the first application of the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act (PAIPA). It provides sanctions against persons who knowingly engaged in, or benefited from, significant theft of trade secrets of United States persons if the theft of such trade secrets is reasonably likely to result in a significant threat to the national security, foreign policy, economic health, or financial stability of the United States.
The restrictions included, in particular:
- Sergey Sergeevich Zelenyuk is a Russian citizen, heads the company Matrix LLC / Operation Zero in St. Petersburg, which sold exploits – code and techniques that allow gaining unauthorized access to computer systems and stealing information;
- Marina Evgenievna Vasanovich – Zelenyuk’s assistant, acting on his behalf or in his interests;
- Oleg Vyacheslavovich Kucherov is a Russian suspected of having ties to the cybercriminal group Trickbot, which was previously included in US sanctions lists for organizing attacks on government and private targets;
- Azizjon Makhmudovich Mamashoev is a business partner of Zelenyuk and Kucherov, the founder of Advance Security Solutions (UAE and Uzbekistan), which was also involved in the purchase and sale of exploits.
The sanctions provide for the blocking of all assets of sanctioned individuals and companies in the United States, as well as a ban on American persons conducting any financial transactions with them.
According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Operation Zero and its affiliates offered millions of dollars in rewards for obtaining exploits for US software, including operating systems and encrypted messaging apps. The stolen tools could be used for ransomware attacks, espionage and other harmful activities.
The case is part of a broader cybercrime investigation the United States is pursuing with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department, including the case of Australian Peter Williams, who pleaded guilty to stealing cyber tools and selling them to brokers overseas.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the United States will bring to justice those who steal American trade secrets.
“We will continue to protect US intellectual property and national security,” Bessent said.
At the same time, the United States notes that the purpose of sanctions is not punishment, but changing the behavior of criminals and preventing threats to national security.
