by CIO Staff

IBM Moscow Office Hit With Police Raid

News
Dec 07, 20061 min
Security

Police raided IBM’s Moscow headquarters Wednesday.

Speaking Thursday, IBM spokesman Jonathan Batty confirmed that the raid had taken place. However, he wouldn’t say if the authorities seized documents or computer equipment.

“We’re stating for the time being that we are cooperating with the Russian authorities but declining to give any further comment now,” Batty said.

An unidentified law enforcement source was quoted by the Interfax News Agency as saying the raid could pertain to imports of black-market computers for Russia’s State Pension Fund.

Interfax reported that 10 locations around Moscow were raided by masked officers carrying rifles, although it was not immediately clear which law enforcement agency the officers represented.

Also reportedly raided were the headquarters of the State Pension Fund, which manages US$57.5 billion in pensions; the Information and Computer Technologies Industry Association; Lanit Group, a Russian company that deals in outsourcing software development; and R-Style Group, a supplier of computers, peripherals and office equipment, according to the Moscow Times.

-Jeremy Kirk, IDG News Service (London Bureau)

Check out our CIO News Alerts and Tech Informer pages for more updated news coverage.