Denis Allayarov, the editor of the Yekaterinburg media outlet URA.RU, is under criminal investigation for allegedly bribing an official. According to reports, law enforcement officers searched Allayarov’s home and seized equipment.

Allayarov stated that officers broke down his door and used physical force to access his devices, despite his request for his lawyer to be present. He claims the officers did not provide him with details of the criminal case or the accusations against him.

During the search, officers reportedly ransacked his apartment, focusing on historical books, allegedly seeking extremist subtext. A laptop and two tablets were confiscated, and Allayarov was taken to the Investigative Committee.

Allayarov denies the accusations, which reportedly involve photographing the head of the Sverdlovsk police and the Governor of the Sverdlovsk region. The Investigative Committee of the Sverdlovsk region has not commented on the situation.

The agency’s editorial office released a statement saying that the work of the head office was stopped by the Investigative Committee investigators and that “there is no question of any financing of doctors or other situations.”