An Azerbaijan-born Russian billionaire wanted by Moscow over his alleged role in two murders has been arrested in Montenegro, media reports and his lawyer said on Saturday.
Telman Ismailov was arrested in Podgorica late on Friday on an international arrest warrant issued by Russia, local media reported.
His lawyer, Milos Vuksanovic, said a Podgorica tribunal ordered that Ismailov be remanded in custody pending extradition.
He said Ismailov had been the "victim of political persecution by Russia" and that prior to his arrest he had been seeking asylum in Montenegro where his son Alekper Ismailov owns a casino in the coastal town of Budva.
Local media reports said Russia suspects Ismailov of financing the murder of two entrepreneurs in Moscow in 2016 to the tune of $2 million.
Ismailov has in the past sparked the ire of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The tycoon Ismailov built a vast shopping centre in Moscow that was criticised for failing to adhere to sanitation standards and for the presence of counterfeit goods.
When he later inaugurated a luxury hotel in Turkey with great fanfare in May 2009, he again drew the wrath of Putin, who unleashed a tirade against counterfeiting.
The Moscow market was shut down several months later and Ismailov left Russia.
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.
