Russian IT pioneer Alexander Galitsky flees Russia after assets seized over 'Ukraine support'

Alexander Galitsky, 71, a Soviet-era engineer who became one of Russia's first successful tech entrepreneurs and venture investors, has left Russia after authorities confiscated his property. The seizure followed a domestic conflict that drew state attention, with officials citing alleged support for Ukraine. Galitsky was a pioneer behind early Wi-Fi and VPN technologies.

Alexander Galitsky, one of Russia's earliest and most prominent technology entrepreneurs and venture capitalists, has fled the country after Russian authorities seized his property, reportedly citing his alleged support for Ukraine. The 71-year-old's departure became known on May 26, marking a dramatic end to a career that had once made him a celebrated figure in the Russian tech world.

From Soviet Engineer to Tech Pioneer

Galitsky began his career as a Soviet-era hardware designer before transitioning into entrepreneurship in the post-Soviet period. He built a reputation over decades of work in the United States, Eastern Europe, and Russia, becoming one of the first Russians to successfully operate at the intersection of Silicon Valley and the emerging Russian technology sector. His contributions to networking infrastructure, including early Wi-Fi and VPN technologies, were foundational — a fact he reportedly cited pointedly when questioned by authorities: «You are using Wi-Fi that I created, VPN that I created. Are you using extremist things?»

Domestic Conflict and State Scrutiny

The chain of events that led to his exile began with a bitter dispute with his former wife Aliya, which ended in her death. The conflict drew the attention of Russian law enforcement and security services, who subsequently moved against Galitsky's Russian assets. The confiscation of his property was framed by authorities around accusations of supporting Ukraine, a charge that has increasingly been used against Russian businesspeople and public figures who fall out of favour with the Kremlin.

A Pattern of Targeting Russia's Tech Elite

Galitsky's case reflects a broader pattern in which Russia's security apparatus has targeted prominent business figures, particularly those with international ties, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Entrepreneurs with connections to Western markets or technology sectors have found themselves especially vulnerable to legal pressure and asset confiscation. His story stands as one of the starkest examples yet of how the Kremlin's wartime domestic crackdown is reaching into the ranks of Russia's own pioneering technology class.