Repeatedly questioned by Russia: Russian presidential adviser says using Bitcoin is illegal

German基里门柯, an adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, reportedly said in an interview with Russian online news service Lenta.ru that using digital currency for payment is a crime.

According to a translation by Russian bitcoin news site ForkLog, Kilimenko told Lenta.ru:

“Bitcoin is not the first, there are other means of settlement. Bitcoin payments cannot be accepted because it is a criminal act.”

Killemenko went on to say that if digital currencies become widely adopted in the future, other countries will also have to ban digital currencies.

"Because no country in the world will allow it to develop, and when it becomes critical, everyone will definitely ban it."

The development of digital currencies such as Bitcoin in Russia has been controversial. Not long ago, some Russian legislative representatives submitted Bitcoin regulatory regulations to the Russian Duma (parliament) with the aim of banning the use of digital currencies including Bitcoin. However, it is still unclear what form the ban will take and how the regulations will be implemented after the bill is passed.

Killemenko has also spoken out about regulating the internet.

According to Meduza, a Russian-language online news outlet, Kilimenko believes that the internet needs more regulation because "in addition to being flooded with a large number of financial transactions, the internet also hosts a large number of criminal activities and terrorists."

“Of course, this all needs to be regulated.”

President Putin's newly appointed Internet advisor was recently exposed for close links to an illegal torrent website. But Killimenko has vehemently denied this. It is reported that although Killimenko has only been an advisor to the president for a short time, he has already made a name for himself by turning a blind eye to online copyright infringement.

Original article: http://www.coindesk.com/receiving-bitcoin-payments-is-a-crime-says-russian-presidential-advisor/
By Stan Higgins
Compiled by: printemps
Source (translation): Babbitt Information (http://www.8btc.com/presidential-advisor)