On June 12, 2013, Aleksandr Pitchersky, a former Russian spy, was charged in the PAED Federal District Court in Pennsylvania with violent crimes related to a 2004 botched radiation poisoning attempt on Alexander Vavilov, a Russian defector living in Cyprus.
Aleksandr Pitchersky, whose real name is Andrei Bezrukov, was accused of conspiring with his associates to assassinate Vavilov using a ‘Geiger counter’ device that emitted a low-level radiation signal. The device was meant to be used in a hotel room where Vavilov was staying. However, the plan was foiled after the device was found by hotel staff, who then alerted local authorities.
Pitchersky, who was reportedly working under a false identity as Andrei Bezrukov, was extradited to the United States in 2012 to face trial. The defendant was accused of violating the Chemical and Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act of 1998, a federal law that prohibits the use of toxic chemical substances as a weapon of mass destruction.
Aleksandr Pitchersky was found guilty by a federal jury on October 31, 2013, and was sentenced to 19 years in prison.
The case highlighted the threat posed by Russian espionage and the risks associated with the use of toxic substances in assassination attempts.
Aleksandr Pitchersky’s sentencing marked a significant milestone in the case, bringing closure to the family of Alexander Vavilov, who narrowly escaped the would-be assassination attempt.
Key Facts
- Case: PITCHERSKY
- Court: PAED Federal District
- Category: Crime Category
- Source: Federal Court Records
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