INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A Russian-German man arrested earlier this week in Cyprus was charged Thursday by United States authorities with seeking to export
American-made electronics to Russia for military use.The United States Department of Justice said Arthur Petrov, 33, violated export
controls in a scheme to procure American microelectronics for a Russian firm that provides "critical electronics components" to the Russian
military.Petrov used a cover company in Cyprus, telling United States vendors that the electronics were to be used in Cyprus or other
authorized countries for fire security systems, the Justice Department said.The things he sought to buy were microcontrollers and integrated
circuits that cannot be lawfully exported to Russia, and Petrov was aware of that, it said.The ultimate buyer, according to the Justice
Petersburg company named Electrocom VPK, which supplies electronic components for Russian weapons makers.Petrov was arrested in Cyprus on
26, at the request of the United States, the department said
It did not say if a formal extradition request had been submitted.He is charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy to
violate the Export Control Reform Act, smuggling, wire fraud, and money laundering.Several of the charges bring up to 20 years in prison.