Elena Khakhaleva, a former judge from Krasnodar, has been released from custody in Baku and placed under police supervision, following a decision by the Baku Court of Appeal on February 4 according to APA News agency.

While Azerbaijan typically complies with such extradition requests, the current geopolitical climate could lead to a different outcome, given the recent deterioration in relations between Baku and Moscow. 

Khakhaleva, who had been wanted internationally by Russia on fraud and forgery charges, was detained on January 27 at Baku Airport while attempting to fly to Dubai.

According to her lawyer Shahla Humbatova, Khakhaleva denies the charges, arguing that her absence from work was wrongly classified as fraud. Azerbaijani authorities have not disclosed how long she will remain under police supervision, but her initial arrest had been set for 40 days, of which 10 days were spent in detention.

The Azerbaijani General Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to Caucasian Knot that the Baku Court of Appeal overturned her arrest ruling, but said that her extradition request from Russia remains under review. Meanwhile, the Khazar District Prosecutor’s Office ruled to keep her under police supervision pending further legal proceedings.

The rise and fall of 'Golden Judge'

Khakhaleva first gained national attention in 2017 after her daughter’s lavish wedding, attended by high-profile Russian entertainers. The event, estimated at $2mn, led Russian and international media to dub her the ‘Golden Judge’. Despite attempts to justify the costs, Khakhaleva lost her position and eventually fled Russia.

Russian outlet 161.ru reports that Khakhaleva’s legal credentials have long been under scrutiny. She was accused of using a fraudulent law degree from Tbilisi State University, although official verifications later deemed the document authentic. Critics argue that Russian legal authorities chose to accept the degree's validity to avoid nullifying thousands of court rulings made during her tenure.

Her career trajectory was closely tied to influential judicial figures, particularly Alexander Chernov, then-chairman of the Krasnodar Regional Court. Reports suggest that her family ties to Chernov’s grandson shielded her from disciplinary action for years. However, her downfall accelerated after his retirement.

The corruption allegations

Khakhaleva faced multiple corruption allegations, with 161.ru claiming she was linked to criminal networks and involved in fraudulent land seizures from farmers. She was also implicated in a scheme where car manufacturers were sued for false defect claims to extract compensation. Additionally, reports suggested that Khakhaleva and her ex-husband, businessman Robert Khakhalev, held luxury properties in Barcelona, Dubai, Tbilisi and Moscow, although official records attributed them to associates and relatives.

In March 2020, after being dismissed from her judicial post, Khakhaleva wrote an open letter to President Vladimir Putin, alleging a coordinated campaign against her by business elites. However, in December 2021, Russian authorities formally charged her with fraud over an alleged 127-day absence from work while continuing to receive her salary, amounting to RUB1.2mn. By then, she had already fled Russia to Armenia. In May 2022, the Russian Investigative Committee escalated the charges, leading to a warrant for her arrest in absentia.

Arrest in Baku and extradition prospects

Khakhaleva remained out of the public eye for nearly three years until her detention in Baku. According to 161.ru, she was removed from a flight to Dubai, claiming she was traveling for medical treatment. Azerbaijani authorities identified her via an Interpol notice, prompting Russia’s extradition request.

If extradited, she could face additional criminal charges in Russia. However, the Azerbaijani government has not yet confirmed whether it will comply with Moscow’s request. Given the latest tensions with Russia, her fate remains uncertain. She might evade Russia’s grasp for now—or, in a more cynical scenario, become a bargaining chip in diplomatic negotiations.