A former executive of an avionics company has been jailed in the United States (US) for violating export laws by smuggling equipment to Russia.
On June 12, 2026, the Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas confirmed that Douglas Edward Robertson, 58, was sentenced for 32 months in prison.
Based in Olathe, Kansas, the former Vice President of KanRus Trading Company circumvented export laws to sell advanced aviation technology to Russian end users.
Robertson pleaded guilty to export control and money laundering violations while a second man, Oleg Chistyakov, 56, from Latvia, acted as a broker for KanRus and was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty to his part in the conspiracy.
Cyril Gregory Buyanovsky, 63, of Lawrence, the former President and owner of KanRus, is awaiting sentencing.
He pleaded guilty to conspiracy and money laundering, and he consented to the forfeiture of over $450,000 worth of avionics equipment and accessories and a $50,000 personal forfeiture judgment.
“The U.S. changed trade restrictions with Russia after its invasion of Ukraine for a reason,” US Attorney Ryan Kriegshauser said. “These defendants put money over the country and considered themselves cleverer than Customs officials. They thought they could circumvent the restrictions without being detected, but they were wrong. Smugglers can’t fly under the radar without federal investigators ultimately uncovering their criminal activities.”
Despite the tightening of export rules to Russia, following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the three men continued to purchase, sell, and export sophisticated and controlled avionics equipment to customers in Russia without the required licenses.
Robertson was arrested in March 2023 for smuggling US avionics to Russia by lying about the exports’ value, end users, and end destinations.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement investigated the case.
The Latvian authorities also assisted in the investigation while US Customs and Border Protection provided substantial assistance.
“The sentencing should provide assurance to the public: the FBI will investigate and arrest those who wish to violate our nation’s laws,” said Chris Ormerod, FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge.