A couple of Russian citizens reported to the police to have been kidnapped last Friday in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo in Argentina, in a case involving extortion, cryptocurrencies and an international escape.
The victims, 30 and 27, said they are dedicated to businesses related to cryptocurrencies And they gathered that afternoon in a bar in Palermo to discuss business issues with two compatriots, who then invited them to an apartment they had rented on Ravignani Street at height 1500 to continue conversations.
Once inside, they indicated that these They were attacked, the mobile phones confiscated, and immediately transferred about $ 43,000 to a Wallet of cryptocurrencies. They also pointed out that they recorded a video of the victims and sent it to relatives in Russia, demanding an additional payment of $ 100,000 through a QR code. Researchers are finding out if this second collection was finally made.
The situation took a turn when, around 23 hours, one of the kidnapped victims managed to ask the screams from the balcony of the department. Employees of a neighboring restaurant alerted 911 and minutes later the city police arrived at the scene, where it rescued the couple and the couple related what happened.
According to the police, both were in a state of shock and with difficulties in communicating due to the idiomatic barrier, which was provisionally resolved with the help of a friend who acted as a translator until the arrival of official interpreters.
The investigation has been in charge of the South Anti -crushing Department of the Federal Police, under the direction of prosecutor Eduardo Taiano and the supervision of federal judge María Romilda Servini.
At the moment, the authorities confirmedaccording to local media, that the suspects – one originally from Moscow and the other of Chechnya, a republic that is part of the Russian Federation— They escaped from the country a few hours after kidnapping to different destinations. One went to the United Arab Emirates and the other to Türkiye.
Interpol already issued a red alert for capture. Although Argentina does not have extradition treaty with the Emirates, that does not prevent an eventual delivery from being negotiated.
The authorities also indicated that the extortion call to relatives originated in a rented house in the Costa party.
