Operation in Azerbaijan: Russian agency Sputnik employees arrested

According to reports in the national press, Igor Kartavıh and Yevgeni Belousov, who were detained during an operation carried out by teams affiliated with the Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs against Sputnik's Baku office yesterday, were brought before a judge today.

The court sentenced Sputnik's Baku office manager Kartavıh and editor-in-chief Belousov to four months in detention.

Kartavıh and Belousov will be tried under articles of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code: "organized fraud", "illegal entrepreneurship by obtaining large amounts of income", "organized illegal entrepreneurship" and "organized legalization of income obtained from crime".

Despite the suspension of accreditation, Sputnik's Baku office was found to be continuing to operate on the basis of illegal financing, and an investigation was launched.

As part of the investigation, Sputnik's Baku office was searched and some employees were detained.

According to local media reports, two detained Sputnik employees were also members of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).

The Azerbaijani government decided to suspend the activities of Sputnik's Baku office in February 2025.

It was reported that the decision was taken to ensure the principle of reciprocity between the activities of Azerbaijani state media abroad and the work of foreign press members in Azerbaijan, and in this context, it was envisaged that the number of Sputnik correspondents working in Baku would be equalized with the number of correspondents of the Azerbaijan State News Agency (AZERTAC) in Russia.

Sputnik's Baku office did not comply with this decision and did not suspend office activities and staff work during the period.

AA