The court rejected an independent expert examination of Alla Soboleva's conversations with the developer's assistant.

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The interrogation of equity holder Alla Soboleva, accused of extorting an apartment from a developer, has concluded in Sochi. The court refused to accept an expert analysis of conversations between Soboleva and the developer's assistant, which stated that there were no signs of threats, extortion, or blackmail on the part of the equity holder.

As reported by "Kavkazsky Uzel," Sochi resident Alla Soboleva is accused of extorting Shamil Nunayev, the developer of the Kurortny residential complex. In September 2023, a search was conducted in Alla Soboleva's apartment, and her phone and computer were seized. She was also served with a warrant to initiate criminal proceedings based on a complaint filed by the developer. According to investigators, the extortion involved the equity holder seeking to have her rights respected by posting online about purchasing illiquid housing in the Kurortny residential complex, Alla Soboleva previously stated. At the end of January, Soboleva testified in court for the first time, maintaining her innocence. Her defense accused the court of bias.

On February 10, the Central District Court of Sochi concluded the interrogation of Alla Soboleva, accused of extorting an apartment from the developer. The interrogation lasted four sessions: January 20 and 27, and February 2 and 10. Soboleva attended the hearing in person, whereas previously she had been removed from most hearings, which, according to her lawyers, limited her rights, her defense told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent on condition of anonymity.

Soboleva is accused of extorting housing from a developer. According to the defense, neither the defendant nor the victim ever met or communicated in person. According to the defense, all contacts took place through the developer's assistant, who, according to Soboleva, initiated discussions about the deal and provoked her into making statements that were later taken out of context.

The defense claims the judge took a "selective approach" to evidence. A linguistic expert testimony from the victim was accepted, pointing to the alleged extortion. Moreover, an independent expert opinion conducted by Professor of Philology A.N. Baranov was rejected.

According to the 176-page expert opinion, all conversations between Soboleva and the developer's assistant contain no signs of threats, extortion, or blackmail. The expert noted that the assistant, acting on instructions from Nunayev, initiated the discussions regarding the purchase and sale. According to the expert's conclusions, Soboleva did not consent to the exchange of her apartment for a penthouse in the Pokrovsky residential complex and refused the deal, citing the legal status of the property and the inadequacy of the living space for her purposes.

At the hearing on February 10, the defense also reminded the court that the only question the judge asked Soboleva concerned the date on which the developer's assistant allegedly demanded the exchange of the apartment and threatened criminal liability. Soboleva explained to the court that on March 17, 2023, she was effectively coerced into discussing the deal, and on March 29, Nunaev's assistant filed a criminal complaint on behalf of his employer. A court source told a "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that an appeal hearing on Shamil Nunaev's appeal against changing Soboleva's preventive measure will be held on February 11. Nunaev is reportedly concerned that Soboleva may abscond and fail to pay him 3 million rubles in a civil claim for moral damages. If Nunaev's demands are upheld, the defendant's young daughter risks being left without a mother again, the source warns. Soboleva will be able to contact the regional court via videoconference. As a reminder, in 2023, Alla Soboleva reported that residents of the "Kurortny" residential complex have been unable to get the developer to correct construction defects for years. In May of that year, she filed a complaint to the head of the Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, against city hall officials, judges, and security officials, who, in her opinion, allowed this situation to happen through their actions and inactions.

The Kurortny microdistrict was supposed to consist of 50 three-story buildings. In 2016, construction was halted due to violations. Specifically, inspectors discovered that the site contained six buildings ranging from four to six stories in height. The Sochi administration filed a lawsuit against Kurortny Residential Complex LLC for demolition of the unauthorized construction, and the properties were seized.

In June 2015, a two-story private house slid into the Kurortny Residential Complex foundation pit. Local residents claimed that the construction could lead to further landslides. In 2018, developer Shamil Nunayev was commissioned to complete the Kurortny Residential Complex.

By investing in shared-equity construction, people are essentially investing in the construction business. They share The Caucasian Knot report, "Equity holders: lawyers advise how to avoid fraud," states the risks with the developer, in exchange for receiving an acceptable price for housing.