The capture of one Greek businesswoman announced the US Department of Justice on charges that it helped Moscow obtain technological secrets related to quantum computing and nuclear testing for the benefit of Russia’s defense research.

Nikos Bogonicolos, a Greek national, was arrested in Paris, France on May 9, 2023 and remains in custody pending extradition proceedings, the US Department of Justice reports.

“While ostensibly acting as a defense contractor for NATO and other allied countries, the defendant and his Aratos group allegedly engaged in double-dealing, helping to fuel Russia’s war effort and development of next-generation weapons,” said Eastern District Attorney of New York, Bryon Peace. “Our Office continues to work tirelessly to ensure that technologies that can change the balance do not fall into the wrong hands.”

It is alleged that Bogonicolos “conspired with a network of companies orchestrated by the Russian intelligence services” to fraudulently obtain and then traffic US-sourced military technologies and to assist the Russian defense and security sectors. “Bogonikolos procured sensitive NATO-compliant equipment designed for tactical battlefield conditions, as well as components with applications in space and cryptographic communications, on behalf of his Russian partners seeking to improve their country’s warfighting capabilities.”