MOSCOW, June 8 (RAPSI) – Moscow’s Ostankinsky District Court has issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Russian citizen Alexander Vinnik detained by a Greek court on the request of the U.S. where he is charged with $4-billion crypto currency fraud, the court’s spokesperson Anna Selivanova has told RAPSI.

Russian authorities have put Vinnik on the international wanted list on cyber fraud charges, according to Selivanova. The man could face up to 10 years in Russian prison if convicted.

Vinnik was arrested in Greece, where he went on vacation, in July 2017. The U.S. authorities claim that the Russian national, acting as an operator of BTC-e digital currency trading platform and exchange, received $4 billion and did business in violation of anti-money laundering legislation. Vinnik has pleaded not guilty and filed an appeal against a ruling ordering his extradition to the U.S. In December, the Supreme Court of Greece dismissed his appeal.

Russia is also seeking extradition of Vinnik on fraud allegations. In October 2017, Russian prosecutors’ request for his extradition was granted by a judicial council in Thessaloniki.

A final decision in Vinnik’s extradition case is to be adopted by the Justice Minister of Greece.

In January, the Prosecutor General’s Office repeatedly sent Greek authorities a request for Vinnik’s extradition.