According to TsUR, on whose assignment Dzhemal, Rastorguev and Radchenko went to CAR, the journalists were pursuing a news tip about a group of armed Russian mercenaries sighted in the African country. 
Kutokana na taarifa ya kituo cha kudhibiti uchunguzi, waandishi wa habari hao walikuwa wanafuatilia taarifa ya kikundi cha mamluki wa jeshi la Urusi ambao wapo katika nchi ya Afrika.