Four Russians, one Ukrainian and one Uzbek citizen were allegedly detained in Turkey on suspicion of preparing armed attacks against Chechen dissidents, Reuters reported, citing Turkish broadcaster TRT Haber on Thursday.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Tanju Bilgich told the state-run RIA Novosti news agency that he has no information regarding the arrest of four Russian citizens allegedly accused of espionage.
"I do not know anything about this. If I find out, I will answer you," Bilgich told RIA Novosti.
According to local reports quoted by Reuters, the Istanbul Prosecutor General's Office detained six suspects on Oct. 8 while they were allegedly preparing a joint operation against Chechen dissidents in Turkey. They had already acquired weapons, the local broadcaster said.
Currently, the suspects are being held in detention and may face up to 15-20 years in prison on charges of "political and military espionage," TRT Haber said, citing state-owned Anadolu news agency.
President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists on Thursday that the Kremlin has no information about the detention of Russians in Turkey.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
