The owner of a business in Lawrence, Kansas has pleaded guilty in federal court to his role in a years-long conspiracy to smuggle avionics equipment to Russia in violation of U.S. export laws.
60-year-old Cyril Buyanovsky, the owner and president of KanRus Trading Company, Inc admitted to conspiring with others, including former KanRus vice president Douglas Robertson of Olathe, to filing false export forms with the U.S. government. Prosecutors said after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Buyanovsky continued to sell and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Prosecutors said Buyanovsky, Robertson and others took a number of steps to hid their illegal activity from law enforcement. An addition to the guilty plea, Buyanovsky agreed to forfeit over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories and a $50,000 person forfeiture judgment. He faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison, and a sentencing hearing was scheduled for March 21st.
The U.S. Attorney for Kansas, Kate Brubacher, said in a press release, “After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. government imposed export controls and sanctions to prevent the weaponization of U.S. manufactured technology against Ukraine in a conflict intended to usurp its right to sovereignty within its borders. As long as there are people who value greed and profit over freedom and justice, the U.S. Department of Justice will remain vigilant and investigate and prosecute these crimes.”
