A mixed martial arts fighter, Askhab Magomedov, was detained inside a hotel room at the Azimut Olympic Hotel in Moscow. Authorities accuse him of extorting money from a minor.
Investigators say that in October 2021 Magomedov demanded a large sum from the minor, threatening violence in exchange for not sharing information that could embarrass his family and loved ones in the media. The Telegram channel 112 notes that Magomedov forced the youth to pay about 600 thousand rubles after previously accusing the minor of selling a friend fake shoes under a well known brand’s name.
Following repeated calls demanding payment, the mother of the young man contacted the police and filed a report. A criminal case has been opened against the athlete, and he faces up to seven years in prison under the extortion charge.
Also present at the time of the arrest was a friend of the popular video blogger Nekoglai, who had recently set records for simultaneous Twitch streaming viewers during a broadcast this year.
Magomedov with a history of controversy
Magomedov is known for an interest in high speed driving and luxury cars. He has posted videos showing himself driving at roughly 200 km per hour and even dancing on a car roof in another clip.
Earlier reports from fall 2021 described a video appearing online showing Magomedov striking a colleague in the army. On May 17, 2022, he allegedly clashed with security guards in a Moscow parking lot, knocked over a traffic cone, and maneuvered around a barrier to a parking area near Kazansky railway station. The guards confronted him about his behavior, and tensions nearly escalated into a physical confrontation.
A few days later, on May 5, 2022, Magomedov was involved in a fatal accident. He was in a Porsche Panamera with Nekoglay when a car-sharing vehicle ran a red light and collided with a truck. The driver of the car-sharing vehicle died at the scene after being trapped in his vehicle, and Nekoglay and the athlete sustained injuries, including a concussion for Nekoglay and a head injury for Magomedov.
What punishment could Magomedov face for extortion?
According to criminal lawyer Maxim Kalinov, if guilt is proven, the case could lead to a significant prison sentence. He explained that the extortion charge falls under Part 2 of Article 163 of the Russian Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison and a potential fine of up to 500 thousand rubles or the option to forego the fine.
Magomedov’s act of extorting money from a minor is not listed as an aggravating circumstance in the current penal code, a fact reflected in the lawyer’s assessment. Kalinov noted that the absence of aggravating factors does not lessen the seriousness of the offense, but could influence sentencing considerations.
He suggested that acknowledging guilt could affect the case trajectory, potentially enabling a category change later. Kalinov has encountered similar situations where defendants choose to admit fault, make amends for moral and material damages, and seek a shift from a serious crime to a medium severity offense under the relevant provisions. This approach may also open the possibility of a suspended sentence or lighter penalties. Kalinov emphasized that such tactical steps often require careful legal planning and cooperation with the court, aiming for more favorable outcomes for the accused.