Major Security Breach At Target Stores Across The U.S.
The US Secret Service would not say if arrested Russian hacker Roman Valerevich Seleznev was also involved in the high-profile breach of US retailer Target earlier this year. IBTimes UK

Russia has accused the US of violating a bilateral agreement and "kidnapping" the son of a member of Russia's parliament after it arrested 30-year-old Roman Valerevich Seleznev.

The Russian media is reporting that Seleznev is the son of Russian MP Valery Seleznev who told the Itar-Tass news agency he had not been able to speak to his son but added: "This is a monstrous lie and a provocative act."

Reacting to the arrest, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on its website:

"We consider this as the latest unfriendly move from Washington. This is not the first time the US side, ignoring a bilateral treaty ... on mutual assistance in criminal matters, has gone ahead with what amounts to the kidnapping of a Russian citizen."

Kidnapping

Seleznev, who was indicted in March 2011 on charges including bank fraud, causing damage to a protected computer, obtaining information from a protected computer and aggravated identity theft, was arrested by the Secret Service on 5 July in an airport in the Maldives.

Seleznev was transported to Guam where he appeared in court on Monday, and will be held there until his next hearing in two weeks. If found guilty of the bank fraud charges alone, Seleznev faces up to 30 years in jail.

Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson said in a statement: "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 organisations."

Credit cards

Seleznev is accused of stealing the details of hundreds of thousands of credit cards from US businesses throughout 2009 and 2011. Seleznev used the alias 'Track2' on underground forums to sell the stolen data raking in profits of more than $2 million ((£1.2m) according to the indictment which was unsealed on Monday.

"This scheme involved multiple network intrusions and data thefts for illicit financial gain," Julia Pierson, director of the Secret Service, said in a statement. "The adverse impact this individual and other transnational organized criminal groups have on our nation's financial infrastructure is significant and should not be underestimated."

The Secret Service would not comment on whether or not Seleznev was suspected of being involved in the recent high profile breach at US retailer Target.

Russia