Former Yukos Oil Officer Alleges Cyber Spying And Email Hacking
A former corporate secretary of Yukos Oil, a Russian oil company that was once one of the largest in Russia, has come forward with allegations of cyber spying and email hacking. Daniel Feldman's role began in 2003, and he was responsible for safeguarding the interests of Yukos' shareholders. However, his efforts to protect the company were thwarted by President Putin's decision to arrest its CEO, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, on trumped-up charges.
Khodorkovsky was a billionaire who had funded opposition parties in Russia and spoken out against corruption. The Kremlin's response was to crack down on political opposition, leading to Yukos' downfall. However, Feldman's allegations of cyber attacks are alarming and could potentially distort the legal system.
The background to Feldman's allegations is that he recently filed a legal motion in New York's federal court accusing Vantage Intelligence of hiring an Israeli man, Aviram Azari, to find hackers from 2016 to 2018 to read Feldman's emails. Feldman claimed that federal prosecutors had given him this information.
Vantage's clients, which are based all over the world, alleged that Feldman had breached his fiduciary obligations. The jury's verdict was $5, although Feldman lost his license to practice law for a year. Now, Feldman wants the judgement tossed in light of what he said are new revelations.
The case gets even more curious because Vantage appointed Eric Prince to its board. He is the founder of a private military contractor, Blackwater, a controversial mercenary group. While Feldman does not name Prince in his lawsuit, an investigation into their relationship has raised eyebrows.
Feldman's main way to communicate with his lawyers had been through emails, which he claimed did not create an unfair advantage for the plaintiffs. However, the Justice Department and the Israeli hacker, Azari, have declined to comment on the allegations.
Email hacking is a real problem, according to reports by the news service Reuters. In 2022 and 2023, they investigated how litigants used spying to prevail in critical court cases, confirming that it is a significant issue. They found 35 legal cases where Indian hackers tried to steal passwords to get dirt and documents from the opposition.
The case of Yukos Oil is a notable example of the intersection between cyber crime and legal proceedings, particularly in energy-related international disputes. If Feldman proves his case in court, it could raise serious concerns about legal integrity and the sanctity of attorney-client privileges.
At a minimum, it highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the use of technology by corporations and governments. The implications of this case extend beyond Russia and into international law, raising questions about expropriation and investor rights.
If the American judicial system is seen as complicit in this abuse of power, it could undermine trust in the courts and the rule of law. It also highlights the need for greater regulation and oversight to prevent the exploitation of digital channels by desperate parties seeking to gain an unfair advantage.