Four Russian and Belarusian nationals, including Maxim Shugalei, a sociologist linked to controversial activities associated with the Wagner Group,  have been  released from detention in Chad. The four have since been returned to Moscow on Saturday.

They had been held at N’Djamena airport since September 19 without any official explanation from Chadian authorities. Speculation suggests their arrest may have been triggered by an article in Jeune Afrique linking Shugalei to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner founder, whom Chad accused of interfering in its internal politics.

The release, secured through diplomatic efforts by Russia, was authorized by Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno. Shugalei, who is already under EU sanctions for his alleged role in disinformation and Wagner-related activities, had previously clashed with Libyan authorities in 2019 over accusations of electoral manipulation.

The Foundation for the Defense of National Values, led by Shugalei, confirmed their return to Moscow. While their release is seen as a diplomatic victory for Russia, the true nature of their detention and the terms of their release remain unclear