Six individuals, initially detained in connection with the kidnapping of businessman and blogger Areg Shchepikhin, have been released on their own recognizance. The defendants face charges including kidnapping and abuse of official authority.

The charges stem from an incident where Shchepikhin was allegedly forced into the trunk of a car near the Yaroslavl railway station. The vehicle was stopped on the Kiev Highway approximately an hour and a half later.

The initial detention occurred following the release of a video online showing the alleged kidnapping. Prior to the incident, Shchepikhin had posted several controversial videos on social media.

During the investigation, three of the detainees identified themselves as members of the National Guard.

Notably, Shchepikhin himself has since been arrested and sentenced to two months in jail for public calls for extremism and inciting hatred. He claimed to have suffered injuries during the initial detention, but stated that he was primarily interrogated.

The court’s website does not currently reflect any information regarding the measure of restraint imposed on the released individuals. The restraint was expected to be chosen within two days of the detention, but six days have passed since then.

The defendants face potential penalties of up to five years in prison for kidnapping and up to four years (or up to 10 years with the use of violence) for abuse of power.

Akhmed Dudaev, Minister of the Chechen Republic, commented on the situation, suggesting that it was not a kidnapping but rather a lawful detention carried out by law enforcement officers. The Ministry of Internal Affairs also issued a statement regarding the businessman’s kidnapping.