The arrest of a Russian man last weekend who is accused of hacking into U.S. retailers' computer systems to steal credit card data sparked claims from Russian authorities Tuesday that the U.S. violated a bilateral treaty by "kidnapping" the man.
The Secret Service arrested Roman Valerevich Seleznev, 30, on Saturday, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He was apprehended in an airport in the Maldives, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, according to Reuters.
"We consider this as the latest unfriendly move from Washington," it said in a statement on its website.
Seleznev allegedly stole credit card data from 2009 to 2011. He was indicted in Washington state in March 2011 on charges including bank fraud and aggravated identity theft. The indictment disclosed that Seleznev hacked into websites ranging from those run by the Phoenix Zoo, a branch of Schlotzsky's Deli and several other small restaurants and entertainment venues around the U.S.
Seleznev is the son of Russian lawmaker Valery Seleznev, a deputy in Russia's lower house. In a statement, his father said he "intends to take all necessary steps to protect his lawful interests."
After the arrest, the Homeland Security department released a statement saying, "This important arrest sends a clear message: despite the increasingly borderless nature of transitional organized crime, the long arm of justice and this Department will continue to disrupt and dismantle sophisticated criminal organizations."
