Russian Law Enforcement Operation Frees Ivan Kaspersky, No Ransom Paid

Earlier this week, several news outlets reported that the 20-year-old son of Kaspersky Lab CEO, Eugene Kaspersky, had gone missing, with kidnappers reportedly demanding €3m (about US$4.4) for his release. Russian news outlets incorrectly reported on Friday that the younger Kaspersky was returned after a ransom was paid. It turns out that Ivan Kaspersky has been, in fact, been returned safely, but according to an official statement from Kaspersky, no ransom was paid.

A Kaspersky Lab spokesperson issued a statement to SecurityWeek late Sunday afternoon, saying, “Kaspersky Lab confirms that an operation to free Ivan Kaspersky was carried out successfully by the Federal Security Service (FSB), the Criminal Investigation Department of the Moscow Police and Kaspersky Lab’s own security personnel. Ivan is alive and well and is currently located at a safe location. No ransom was paid during the rescue operation.”

Ivan Kaspersky, a student at Moscow State University, was reportedly kidnapped Tuesday morning on his way to work.

Headquartered in Moscow, The Federal Security Service is the primary domestic security agency for the Russian Federation and the main successor agency of the Soviet Committee of State Security (KGB). The agency handles things such as counter-intelligence, internal and border security, counter-terrorism, and surveillance across the Russian Federation.

Eugene Kaspersky and Natalya Kaspersky were unavailable for comment. The Kaspersky Lab spokesperson told SecurityWeek that more information and additional comment may be available on Monday.