Owners of pharmacy network, whom “schemes” were exposed in illegal trade in drugs from the Russian Federation, after the suspicion was fled abroad

Citizens of Azerbaijan Brothers Elvin and Ashgin Bagirov, whom “Schemes” (Radio Liberty) in the summer were exposed in illegal trade in Russian drugs in their network of pharmacies “El’farm” in Kiev, after their suspicion was given from Ukraine. It happened on the eve of a court hearing, where they had to choose a measure of restraint. About this “schemes” became known from informed sources in law enforcement agencies.

The Bagirov brothers left for Moldova on the night of March 1 through the checkpoint “Mogilev-Podilskyi-Otach” in Vinnytsia region. They do not apply to the citizens of Azerbaijan, which are not subject to departure restriction on men during the martial law in Ukraine. And the court has not yet chosen a preventive measure for them.

The prosecutors appealed to the Pechersk Court of Kyiv with a request for custody of the owners of the pharmacy network “El’farm” at the end of February, after the National Police informed them about suspicions. However, the court did not hear this request due to the lack of suspects: the lawyers of the Bagirov brothers claimed that their clients were getting sick.

The next meeting at which the Baghell measure was to be chosen was scheduled for March 4. During the court session, at which there were Scheme journalists, prosecutor Alexander Platov reported: “Operational staff of the National Police were entrusted with the execution of the decision (to the reason of the suspected courtroom – Ed.)however, setting your place of residence was not possible. ”

According to Platov, Bagirov did not appear at the previous meetings and challenges of investigators to interrogates, citing illness. In this regard, the court supported the prosecutor’s office and granted permission to detain the Baghirov. The police need to be wanted now.

Elvin and Ashgin Bagirov, as well as two pharmacists whose names do not reveal the names of the police in “collaborative activity” (Part 4 of Article 111-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The maximum punishment for this is up to 5 years of confiscation of property.

The court will choose the precaution for two pharmacists tomorrow, March 5.

In August 2024, the Scheme journalists published an investigation stating that the Kiev pharmacy network “El’farm”, despite the ban and during a full -scale war, sells Russian and Western drugs produced specifically for the Russian Federation. “Schemes” revealed this by conducting a journalistic experiment and purchasing illegal drugs at El’farm.

So “Schemes” found that Russian medicines were sold carefully at the Kiev pharmacy network – on the pre -order by phone, and then sent the client “New Mail”. It is – for example, “Cortexin”, which is produced in the Moscow company by the company “Hearm”.

But the drugs that Western companies produce specifically for the Russian market, in El’farm traded openly-through the site of the Tabletki.ua price aggregator. Among them atarax of the Belgian company UCB Pharma and the “Vobensim” German Mucos Pharma. Both European manufacturers then assured “schemes” that strictly comply with the requirements of Ukrainian legislation and supply only drugs in the country.

As the schemes were established in their investigation, based on the customs database data, atarax, which was traded in the Kiev network “El’farm”, came from a party, which from January to April 2024, the manufacturer sent from Belgium to Russia to Russia.

The Schemes also handed over the packaging of the drug “Vobensim”, which journalists purchased at El’farm, to Berlin, to the head office of Mucos Pharma manufacturer Mucos Pharma to find out its origin.

The company conducted research and replied that these medicines were original, produced for the Russian market and could not get into the Ukrainian pharmacy legally.

Within the framework of the Scheme journalistic investigation, they also addressed the law enforcement officers to find out if they knew about the sale of illegal drugs at the Elithpharm pharmacy network. Subsequently, in the summer of 2024, the owners of pharmacies came with searches, during which more than 50 drugs made, in particular, in Russia.

The police then reported that they stopped “the sale of medicines of Russian production, which were entered into the territory of Ukraine illegally.” But even after searches and criminal cases, El’farm continued to sell illegal medicines – “Schemes” established this, again ordering the Russian drug “Cortexin” in El’farm and received it again by mail from one of the owners of the network, Elvin Baghirova. However, EliFarm has ceased operations.

During the investigation, the “scheme” was associated with the Bagirov brothers, but only one of them answered – Elvin. When asked why Elithpharm, despite the ban, sells Russian medicines in Ukraine, Elvin Bagirov denied it.

It is forbidden to sell Russian medicines in Ukraine since June 2022 – for this the pharmacy can be deprived of licenses, and owners are at least fined for UAH 1700. And in the case of cooperation with Russian companies, it is even to be imprisoned for up to 12 years for the absence of the aggressor. Also under the ban on the sale of Western drugs produced for markets of other countries, including Russia – for this the pharmacy also threatens to deprive the license, and its owners – a fine.