Yelena Khakhaleva, detained in Baku at Russia's request, released

On 4 February, the Baku Court of Appeal released former Russian judge Yelena Khakhaleva, who was arrested in Azerbaijan at the request of the Russian Prosecutor's Office.

Khakhaleva's release was reported to Turan agency by her lawyer Shahla Gumbatova, who filed an appeal to change the measure of restraint.

‘On 4 February, the Court of Appeal ruled on the release of Elena Khakhaleva.  Then we went with her to the Prosecutor's Office to execute some documents,’ - said the lawyer.

As a reminder, Khakhaleva was detained on 28 January at the airport of Baku, when she was going to fly to Dubai.

Former judge from Krasnodar Khakhaleva was put on international wanted list by the Russian authorities. She refused to return to Russia voluntarily, claiming that her persecution was politically motivated.

Note that Khakhaleva was treated first in Georgia and then in Azerbaijan.

Khakhaleva left Russia in December 2021 and was put on an international wanted list. In 2022, a Russian court issued an arrest warrant in absentia. It is not yet clear whether there is an official Russian request for Khakhaleva's extradition.

In Russia, Khakhaleva was charged with fraud and official forgery. A case against her was opened in 2021 at the request of Investigative Committee Chairman Alexander Bastrykin.