Russian MMA Fighter Arrested in Bali for Kidnapping, Then Released

On January 31, Indonesian media and information platforms began reporting that Russian MMA fighter Hasan Askhabov had been detained by Bali police at Ngurah Rai Airport on suspicion of kidnapping, torture, and extortion of a Ukrainian entrepreneur residing in Bali.

According to agency reports, the incident occurred on December 15, 2024. The victim was blocked by two cars, one of which had police license plates. The attackers, armed with guns, knives, and hammers, forced him out of his vehicle, handcuffed him, and placed a black bag over his head.

He was taken to the Jimbaran area, where he was beaten. The perpetrators demanded access to his cryptocurrency wallet. They later moved him to another location, where for several days, they continued to threaten him, pressuring him to transfer funds. Ultimately, the victim transferred $214,000 in cryptocurrency to the criminals.

Fearing police pursuit, the kidnappers eventually released the businessman, leaving him handcuffed and severely beaten on the side of the road at night, where locals later found him. In the hospital, he was diagnosed with hand and head injuries.

Hasan Askhabov was arrested on the evening of January 30, 2024, at Bali’s international airport while attempting to fly to Dubai. According to police representatives, the arrest occurred without resistance.

“Yes, it is true - one of the nine suspects identified by the victim has been detained. We are currently at the headquarters of the General Criminal Investigation Directorate to determine whether he was indeed involved in the crime or not,” said Bali Police Public Relations Chief Kombes Pol Ariasandi.

However, on January 31, it was revealed that Askhabov had been released. The reasons for his release have not yet been disclosed, and the investigation remains ongoing. According to sources, the police are still working to identify and locate the other suspects, but no further arrests have been reported so far.

On the night of January 31 to February 1, Askhabov posted a photo on his Instagram, showing himself leaving Bali with the caption “Money decides everything”, alongside the last name of the victim - Lermakov.

It remains unclear whether this post was meant as a hint or an explanation for his sudden release. Shortly after, Askhabov deleted the post and uploaded a different one, in which he accused the media of exaggerating false stories.

This is not the first time Askhabovs name has appeared in crime reports. In the fall of 2023, he and his twin brother, Hussein Askhabov, were detained in Thailand on suspicion of robbing an Italian tourist.

At that time, reports stated that a group of unidentified individuals had stormed the mans villa in Phuket, tortured him overnight, and stolen valuables worth approximately ‚- 300,000.

However, the brothers were later released, and Hussein Askhabov claimed that their arrest was a mistake. He also stated that the victim was actually a fraudster who owed money to real estate and restaurant owners in Phuket.