Police raid offices of leading Russian Telegram channel (VIDEOS)
Baza, which has more than 1.6 million subscribers on Telegram and ranks 15th in popularity among Russian Telegram news channels, is known for frequently citing anonymous police sources in its reporting.
The channel confirmed the raid, saying officers seized boxes of documents and computers and that several staff members had been taken for questioning. Footage showed plainclothes officers removing items from the newsroom, while masked police searched the premises.
Earlier that day, police also raided the apartment of Baza's editor-in-chief, Gleb Trifonov. The outlet later confirmed he had been detained. Reports said producer Tatyana Lukyanova had also been taken into custody.
The two have been charged with bribery, according to media reports citing investigators, who allege they bought official information from police and published it on Telegram.
Trifonov's lawyer, Alexei Mikhalchik, confirmed the charges. 'After about 20 hours in custody, my client was charged with bribery. He pleaded not guilty,' he told TASS. Lukyanova also denies wrongdoing. According to Mash, both admitted to occasionally paying for videos and information, but only related to sports and social events.
Появились первые кадры обыска в редакции телеграм-канала Baza. Фото и видео из офиса на 3-й улице Ямского Поля в Москве опубликовал канал «Раньше всех. Ну почти». Являются ли эти кадры «информацией ограниченного доступа» от силовиков, неизвестно pic.twitter.com/dqHwN0Iw1D
Baza has linked the case to a broader criminal investigation into abuse of power and unauthorized disclosure of restricted information in the Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, and Belgorod regions. The Investigative Committee later confirmed that Trifonov and Lukyanova had been questioned in connection with that case. It also confirmed that the raids were carried out in Moscow and in the three regions, with materials seized and three policemen detained.
Baza CEO Anatoly Suleymanov said on Wednesday the team will continue working despite the probe. He added that the outlet's accountant had been taken into custody.
A Moscow court is expected to decide on pre-trial restrictions for the accused later on Wednesday. If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison, fines of up to 3 million rubles (just over $38,000), and bans on holding certain jobs.
Separately, reports surfaced that two staff members of online media outlet Ura.ru are under investigation over bribing an official.
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