Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov

Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov
Born (1985-09-11) 11 September 1985
Other namesVictor Muller Ferreira
OccupationAlleged Russian intelligence officer (GRU)
Known forAttempted infiltration of the International Criminal Court under a false identity
Criminal chargesIdentity fraud, acting as an agent of a foreign power, visa fraud, bank fraud, wire fraud, drug trafficking (in Russia), money laundering
Criminal penalty5 years and 2 months (Brazil, identity fraud)
Criminal statusImprisoned in Brazil
Espionage activity
AllegianceRussia
AgencyGRU

Sergey Vladimirovich Cherkasov (Russian: Сергей Владимирович Черкасов, Russian pronunciation: [ʂɪrˈɡʲej vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvʲɪt͡ɕ t͡ɕɪrˈkasəf]), also known as Victor Muller Ferreira (Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈviktoɾ ˈmileɾ feˈʁejɾɐ]), is an alleged Russian intelligence officer working for the GRU, whose true identity was revealed by the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service in 2022. He was first sentenced by a Brazilian federal court to 15 years in prison for using a forged Brazilian government-issued document, but the sentence was later reduced to 5 years and 2 months. As of January 2024, Cherkasov remained in prison, and Brazil had brought a new charge, that he had received and laundered money from a Russian diplomatic employee there, a charge that might forestall an early release from prison.