Hakim Ziyech Celebrates in Russia with Quincy Promes Amidst Controversial Charges

In an unexpected turn of events, Chelsea’s Hakim Ziyech was spotted attending a party in Moscow alongside his former Ajax teammate, Quincy Promes. This gathering took place despite the recent allegations against Promes, who has been charged with smuggling an estimated £65 million worth of cocaine into the Netherlands.

Reports from The Guardian’s Pjotr Sauer indicate that Ziyech made a trip to the Russian capital to attend a party organized by the betting company Winline. It is worth noting that this event occurred during the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

During the gathering, the Chelsea winger, who is expected to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, was photographed alongside Promes. The picture was shared on Promes’ Instagram story, raising eyebrows and causing controversy.

This incident comes just a week after Dutch prosecutors revealed the charges against Promes, who is accused of smuggling 1,370 kilograms of cocaine into the country. According to the Dutch newspaper NOS, the 31-year-old was involved in importing two separate batches of cocaine, weighing approximately 650kg and 713kg. These shipments were intercepted in Antwerp in January 2020.

A preliminary hearing was reportedly scheduled for Monday, and Promes now faces the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence. In addition to the drug charges, he is also facing an accusation of aggravated assault for allegedly injuring a cousin with a knife during a family event in Amsterdam in July 2020. The Dutch Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested a two-year prison term for this offense.

Although Promes was initially charged with attempted murder, the judge determined that there was insufficient evidence to support this accusation. As a result, Ziyech’s presence at the event alongside his former teammate, who is currently facing serious charges, has generated significant controversy on social media platforms.

Furthermore, Ziyech has faced criticism from Ukrainian fans on Twitter for his decision to visit Russia, considering the country’s invasion of Ukraine the previous year. Recent incidents involving suspected Ukrainian kamikaze drones damaging buildings in Moscow, coupled with President Vladimir Putin’s ongoing military strikes on Kyiv, have heightened tensions between the two nations.

Ziyech and Promes played together for a single season at Ajax before Ziyech’s transfer to Chelsea in the summer of 2020. Since then, Ziyech has remained with the London club, scoring 14 goals in 107 games. However, due to a lack of playing time this season, he is likely to leave Stamford Bridge during the upcoming summer transfer window.

In fact, Ziyech was on the verge of joining Paris St-Germain in January, but reportedly, administrative mishaps on the part of Chelsea officials prevented the deal from going through. On the other hand, Promes enjoyed a successful spell with Spartak Moscow in Russia, scoring 22 goals in 32 games and helping the team secure a third-place finish in the Russian Premier League.