Baku: The trial of several Russian citizens, including Sergey Sofronov, Anton Drachev, Dmitry Bezugly, Dmitry Fedorov, Aleksandr Vaysero, Valery Dulov, Aleksey Vasilchenko, and Ilya Bezugly, has started in Baku, as reported by APA. The hearing took place at the Baku Court on Grave Crimes, presided over by Judge Firdovsi Aliyev, where personal details of the accused were clarified.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Anton Drachev filed a motion requesting his pre-trial detention be replaced with house arrest, citing that his residence is known. Ilya Bezugly's defense lawyer, Fakhraddin Mehdiyev, also filed a motion to terminate the criminal case or alternatively to release Bezugly under house arrest, emphasizing his severe arrhythmia condition. Other defense lawyers echoed the request for their clients to be released under house arrest. Sergey Sofronov claimed he was in the country as a tourist with no connection to the criminal activities, seeking termination of his case.

After considering the motions, the court decided not to grant any of them. The case has been referred for trial, with the next hearing scheduled for April 10. The defendants were detained following an operation by the Ministry of Internal Affairs targeting the transit and circulation of narcotics from Iran and cyber fraud. They have been charged under Articles 234.4.1 and 234.4.3 of the Criminal Code, with pre-trial detention ordered by the Sabail District Court since July 1 of the previous year.