Azerbaijani entrepreneur in Russia Yusif Khalilov released from custody

Russian authorities in Voronezh have released Azerbaijani businessman Yusif Khalilov from pre-trial detention following his arrest in September on bribery charges.

Sources close to the businessman said he is currently in Azerbaijan and may return to Voronezh in the near future, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Khalilov owns the restaurant Yardy Superbar, the café Fort, and the large Eliseevsky food market in Voronezh.

He was accused of offering a 330,000-ruble bribe to a dermatologist and member of a military conscription commission earlier this year, allegedly to secure a declaration that his son was unfit for military service.

The charges fall under Article 291, Part 4, Paragraph “b” of the Russian Criminal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison.

Khalilov’s lawyer, Daniil Drobyshev, declined to comment on the case.

By Aghakazim Guliyev