An arms dealer from Kyrgyzstan, Sergei Zharnovnikov, has been charged in a Brooklyn federal court with conspiring to export firearms from the United States to Russia without the necessary licenses and illegal smuggling. Zharnovnikov was arrested on January 24, 2025, in Las Vegas while attending the Shooting, Hunting, and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show.
The charges were announced by John J. Durham, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; Devin DeBacker, head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division; James E. Dennehy, Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI's New York Field Office; and Jonathan Carson, Special Agent in Charge at BIS-OEE's New York Field Office.
“As alleged, the defendant operated a sophisticated scheme to circumvent export controls and to export semi-automatic firearms and send them to Russia,” stated United States Attorney Durham. “Today’s indictment sends a message to the world that we will vigorously enforce statutes that control and restrict the export of items that could be detrimental to the foreign policy or national security of the United States.”
Devin DeBacker emphasized the consequences of violating export control laws: “The Department of Justice is committed to working with our partners to hold accountable those who violate our laws to smuggle firearms to prohibited destinations such as Russia.”
James E. Dennehy added that "Attempting to illegally sell arms to Russia using multiple companies may seem like a method to evade United States sanctions." He further noted that Zharnovnikov allegedly conspired with others "to provide U.S made firearms to Russian companies."
Jonathan Carson stated that "Companies that provide false information to BIS...will be found out and held accountable."
According to court filings, since March 2020, Zharnovnikov conspired with others to export firearms on the U.S. DOC Control List from America to Russia via Kyrgyzstan. A five-year contract worth $900,000 was established between Zharnovnikov's company in Bishkek and a company in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Zharnovnikov is presumed innocent until proven guilty but faces up to 30 years’ imprisonment if convicted. The case is being handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ellen H. Sise along with Trial Attorney Leslie Esbrook.
The investigation was coordinated through Task Force KleptoCapture under an initiative responding to Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.