Moscow city court upholds custody of Russian billionaire Suleymanov

The Moscow City Court has upheld the decision to keep billionaire Ibrahim Suleymanov, accused of organising two murders and an attempted murder, in custody.

According to the court’s ruling, the decision of the Basmanny Court of Moscow remains unchanged and Suleymanov’s appeal has been dismissed. The main part of the hearing was conducted behind closed doors, as was the earlier session during which his arrest had been considered. Suleymanov took part in the proceedings via video link from a detention centre, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media. 

The businessman was detained in Moscow on the night of October 2. The following day, the Basmanny Court ordered his remand in custody until December 2. Investigators suspect him of involvement in several serious crimes, including the organisation of a contract killing in 2004.

Ibrahim Ameevich Suleymanov, born in May 1967 in Rutul, Dagestan ASSR, is a Russian citizen. Russian media describe him as a secretive billionaire with ties to organised crime and other oligarchs. He has previously been convicted of fraud and money laundering.

Suleymanov is the son-in-law of Platon Lebedev, the former business partner of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and the father of Rasul Suleymanov, who is listed as a nominal shareholder in several strategic companies. He is also regarded as a key beneficiary of AO “Sirena-Travel,” a major firm in Russia’s IT infrastructure sector.

By Sabina Mammadli