The Russian government has confirmed the detention of three of its citizens in Chad, sparking diplomatic efforts to secure their release. The detained individuals, identified as Maxim Shugaley, Samer Sueifan, and E. Tsaryov, were apprehended in the capital, N’Djamena, on September 19. According to Russian officials, they are working closely with Chadian authorities to ensure the prompt return of the detainees.
Initial reports suggest that Shugaley and Sueifan were detained at N’Djamena’s airport, though no official explanation has been provided for the action. It is noted that both men had previously traveled to Chad without incident. Alongside the three Russians, a Belarusian national identified as A. Denisevich was also detained.
Maxim Shugaley, one of the detained individuals, is the head of the Foundation for the Defence of National Values, an organization based in Moscow. The foundation has been linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the former leader of the Wagner paramilitary group. Shugaley, who is currently under European Union sanctions, has been accused of playing a role in disseminating propaganda on behalf of Wagner. His recent public statements, made in August, commemorated the one-year anniversary of Prigozhin’s death in a plane crash, honoring those who died as “heroes.”
This is not Shugaley’s first encounter with legal trouble abroad. In 2019, both Shugaley and Sueifan were arrested in Libya and accused of meddling in the country’s elections on behalf of Russian interests. The two men were detained for 18 months before being released in December 2020.
Russia’s growing presence in Chad and neighboring countries has been a subject of attention in recent years. Regions traditionally under France’s influence have seen increasing Russian involvement, particularly through Wagner personnel presented as military instructors. Earlier this year, senior Russian officials visited Chad, where discussions were held with the country’s leadership on efforts to stabilize the region.
Chad, which ranks among the poorest nations in the world, is currently the last country in the Sahel region still hosting French military forces. In recent years, France has withdrawn its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, leaving Chad as a critical point of military presence in the region.