The Russian Federation embassy in Nairobi has dismissed reports that a Russian citizen, Mikhail Lyapin, was arrested and deported.
In a press statement on Saturday, the Russian embassy dismissed reports of Lyapin’s arrest and deportation.
It said that the Russian citizen was escorted to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) offices in Nairobi to record a statement regarding his business activities in the country.
“Upon completing all necessary procedures, in the afternoon of September 26, Mr Lyapin, in accordance with his previous plans, left Kenya. Diplomats of the Russian Embassy in Nairobi provided the necessary consular and legal assistance to the Russian citizen, and also made sure that his legal rights were not violated,” said the Russian Federation.
The Russian Embassy further stated that it has no official information from the Kenyan authorities regarding any claims against Lyapin or his activities.
“Contrary to the reports of a number of media outlets, Mr Lyapin has never been an employee of Russian governmental bodies and does not work at the Russian Embassy in Nairobi,” it added.
Media reports in Kenya had indicated that a Russian citizen was arrested on Thursday evening, after 22 Kenyan nationals were found in rented apartments in Nairobi, reportedly preparing to travel to Moscow.
The BBC reported that police officers seized recruitment materials, travel documents, and job offer letters in the raid, arresting a Russian national accused of coordinating the victims' travel in September and October.
On Friday, Edward Kamau Gituku, a Kenyan national accused of running a human trafficking network was detained for ten days to allow police to complete investigations.
The Kahawa Law Courts ordered that Edward Kamau Gituku be held at Muthaiga Police Station after prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) applied for his continued detention.
According to investigators, Gituku is suspected of being at the helm of a transnational trafficking ring ferrying Kenyans to Moscow, Russia, where victims are allegedly subjected to exploitation. Citizen Digital
