The court extended the arrest of Ayaz Shabutdinov until November 3

The businessman’s lawyer, Kaloy Akhilgov, asked at the meeting for his client’s release from the pre-trial detention center, since the investigations into the case had concluded, RIA Novosti reports. “There is no way to influence the investigation and the witnesses who have already been questioned,” he said. Shabutdinov himself stated that he was “helping in the investigation and is willing to do so in the future.”

On October 3, the blogger’s lawyer, Dmitry Grigoriadi, told RB.RU that the preliminary investigation of the criminal case against Shabutdinov had concluded. According to him, the case material amounts to more than 100 volumes and the first meeting should take place in January-February 2025.

“We have gathered a large amount of evidence of Ayaz’s complete innocence in all cases and the absurdity of the accusation, which, of course, sets a precedent and will have a further negative legal impact on the entire sphere of educational services “, Grigoriadi emphasized.

• Shabutdinov is a blogger, serial entrepreneur, founder of the Coffee Like coffee chain, the Like Hostel hostel chain, and the Like Center educational company.

• He was arrested in November 2023 on charges of large-scale fraud. The second person involved, the general director of the Like Center, Vasily Alekseev, was placed on the international wanted list in July 2024.

• The investigation believes that Shabutdinov and his accomplices, on behalf of companies controlled by them, including Like Center, sold courses, trainings and webinars, giving clients false hope of creating a successful business and receiving excessive income. The businessman did not admit guilt.

• In June 2024, five more criminal cases were opened against Shabutdinov, which carry up to 10 years in prison.