A criminal case has been initiated against Denis Allayarov, the editor of the URA.RU Sverdlovsk department, for allegedly bribing an official. Law enforcement authorities announced the action on June 5.

Allayarov is accused of bribing a police officer in exchange for operational reports.

Earlier reports indicated that Allayarov was detained and questioned as a witness without legal representation.

Security forces previously conducted searches of the URA.RU Sverdlovsk editorial office.

The searches are reportedly linked to a criminal case involving abuse of power by unidentified police officers, with journalists being treated as witnesses.

Sergei Bodrov and Anna Salymskaya, also journalists, were among those detained in addition to Allayarov.

Authorities purportedly discovered evidence on URA.RU computers suggesting journalists purchased operational reports from law enforcement.

The situation may be connected to the detention in March 2025 of a former police officer suspected of leaking official information to journalists.