Legal Proceedings Unfold in Moscow: Telegram Channels, Extortion and Corporate Figures

According to reports from Socialbites.ca, Alexandra Bayazitova, a journalist and administrator of the Telegram channel Grandmothers from Hell, was brought to the Basmanny Court in Moscow to hear the verdict in a case involving extortion. The proceedings focused on a series of events tied to extortion allegations centered around a prominent banker and former top executive at Promsvyazbank, Alexander Ushakov. The court in Moscow’s Basmanny district is scheduled to issue a ruling on November 27 after reviewing the case materials. At present, hearings regarding the victim’s petition unfolded behind closed doors, with the court, prosecutors, and defense aligning on a timetable and the scope of evidence. On Wednesday, November 15, discussions began between the parties, and the state prosecutor’s office asserted that the extortion charges against Bayazitova and others were fully supported by the evidence. The prosecutor requested a harsh sentence, proposing 14 years in a general regime prison for Bayazitova and a similar sentence for media technologist Olga Arkharova, who played a role in the case, with a maximum potential sentence reaching up to 13 years in some interpretations. In addition to Bayazitova and Arkharova, Inna Churilova, another Telegram channel manager, is implicated in the case. Churilova reportedly received four years of probation under Article 163 of the Criminal Code for extortion after admitting guilt and expressing remorse. Arkharova’s attorney, Elena Fedulova, previously stated that the Telegram channel Grandmothers from Hell published a post highlighting Ushakov’s professional activities and criminal history. Records indicate that in spring 2022 Ushakov personally contacted the channel’s chatbot requesting a positive piece about his career; Churilova declined. Attempts by Ushakov’s assistant to negotiate the publication were also rejected. According to the defense, in June of the previous year the top manager’s assistant urged Churilov to suppress any mention of Ushakov in the Grandmothers from Hell channel. Subsequently, Churilova and Bayazitova transferred 420,000 rubles for the first month of the service. Arkharova later proposed extending the service with a discounted rate of 1.2 million rubles for three months. The case has drawn attention for the involvement of social media figures in online publication practices and the legal consequences tied to attempts to influence or distort media coverage. Reports indicate that Ushakov has requested a sentence that does not include imprisonment, though the court must determine the appropriate punishment within the bounds of the law. The outcomes of these proceedings will be closely watched by observers in Russia and beyond, as the legal process unfolds with considerations of media influence, online communication, and financial crime. Source: Socialbites.ca