URA.RU editor detained in Yekaterinburg amid ongoing investigation

Igor Sergeyev, the regional editor of URA.RU in Yekaterinburg, has been detained by authorities, reportedly as a witness in the criminal case involving his colleague, Sverdlovsk editor Denis Allayarov.

Prior to his disappearance, Sergeyev managed to inform his lawyers that he was being taken for questioning to the regional office of the Investigative Committee, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

His legal representatives now say they are unaware of his current whereabouts.

“Sergeyev was detained on the morning of July 23. His location remains unknown. The investigator handling the case is refusing to disclose where he is being held,” his lawyers told reporters.

The detention follows the earlier arrest of Denis Allayarov, who has spent over a month in pre-trial detention under what his defence team describes as the harshest possible measures.

Allayarov is suspected of receiving information about criminal incidents in the Sverdlovsk region — one example cited is a case where a man allegedly killed his drinking companion. No further charges or episodes have been confirmed.

Prior to Allayarov’s arrest, large-scale searches were conducted at URA.RU’s main office and at the homes of several journalists. According to reports, no evidence implicating Allayarov was discovered during those operations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev