Vladislav Klyushin, once a thriving Russian businessman, has been sentenced to nine additional years in a U.S. federal prison. This comes alongside an order to forfeit $34 million, marking a significant downfall from his previously illustrious career. Klyushin was convicted on Valentine's Day, 2023, for his role in hacking the networks of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign and the Democratic National Committee, a charge that placed him at the center of a high-profile cybersecurity breach.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, Klyushin's involvement in these incidents has often been treated as a mere footnote in broader coverage. Yet, his story implicates more than just political intrigue. In early to mid-2018, he became entangled in an insider trading scheme with his associate, Ermakov, utilizing a Danish company to execute trades across a variety of stocks. This venture eventually led Klyushin to open a brokerage account through the Danish entity, where Ermakov and an employee of M13 conducted transactions.
Klyushin's life tells a tale of remarkable transformation. Emerging from a childhood marked by poverty and personal loss—having never met his father and losing his stepfather to violence at age 14—he built a successful business empire. He epitomized a rags-to-riches narrative, encapsulated in a gauzy wedding video that celebrated his achievements. In 2020, his success was recognized with a Russian Medal of Honor, an accolade signed by President Vladimir Putin himself.
However, Klyushin's ventures were not limited to legitimate businesses. His partnership with Ermakov extended into the American stock market, where they sought to capitalize illegally. It was this pursuit that ultimately led to his incarceration in a U.S. prison, though he was later exchanged for another Russian national during a prisoner swap.
Throughout this tumultuous journey, Klyushin remained a devoted family man, markedly different from his own upbringing. His expressions of personal contentment reflected this duality of his life—a public figure accused of serious crimes and a private individual cherishing simple pleasures.
"I’ve read somewhere that if you keep buying while you have everything, it means you’re unhappy." – Klyushin
Despite his outward success, Klyushin articulated feelings of restlessness and fatigue:
"I am fucking tired rushing all the time. Need a rest," – Klyushin
His communications with Ermakov revealed tensions within their operations:
“Vlad, you are exposing our organization. This is bad,” – Ermakov
Ermakov warned Klyushin of the potential consequences:
“That’s how they get you and you end up as a defendant in a court room.” – Ermakov
Upon his arrest in 2018, Klyushin faced harsh realities:
“I had on clothes that I had worn in 2018 when I’d been arrested. You know, they hadn’t been washed. They were too big for me,” – Paul Whelan
His eventual return to Russia was met with mixed emotions:
“I waved at people that were waving at me, and then I gave the president a salute as the commander in chief.” – Paul Whelan
“I thanked him for getting us home.” – Paul Whelan
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