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ICANN, the entity responsible for overseeing the Internet’s domain name system, has revoked EstDomains.com’s right to process new domain names because of the CEO’s recent cyber crime convictions in Estonia.

Two months ago, Brian Krebs of WashingtonPost.com published a translated report showing that Vladimir Tsastsin, the CEO of EstDomains, was convicted of credit card fraud, document forgery, and other cyber crime charges in February of this year. This report was a key factor - along with other recent revelations about the company’s ways - that led to the de-accreditation of EstDomains.

In a letter to Mr. Tsastsin of EstDomains (.pdf), ICANN explains their decision:

“Be advised that the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) Registrar Accredditation Agreement (RAA) for EstDomains, Inc. (Customer No. 919, IANA No. 832) is terminated. Consistent with subsection 5.3.3 of the RAA, this termination is based on your status as President of EstDomains and your credit card fraud, money laundering and document forgery conviction. This termination shall be effective within fifteen calendar days from the date of this letter, on 12 November 2008.”

ICANN also said that the 281,000 or so domain names under EstDomain’s control could be transfered to an ICANN-accredited registrar on or before November 6, 2008. However, it seems unlikely that anybody would accept their domains with EstDomains many ties to spam emails, malware downloads, and other criminal domains.

[via WashingtonPost]

Update: EstDomains is appealing the conviction saying Tsastsin resigned from his position in June, thus making ICANN’s reason for termination invalid. Also, Tsastsin is appealing his convictions of fraud, money laundering, and document forgery. EstDomains will retain its accrediated status until further review. [via Domain Name Wire]

Further Reading:

• DNN: “Washinton Post Coverage on Nefarious Domain Name Activities”
• WashingtonPost: “EstDomains: A Sordid History and a Storied CEO”
• WashingtonPost: “A Superlative Scam and Spam Site Registrar”

(c) 2008 DomainNameNews.com

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