The group confirmed that the Azerbaijani authorities have not filed any charges against the detainees, and officials from the Russian consulate in Baku have not been allowed to meet with Russian citizens. According to available information, the apartment of editor Igor Kartavikh was searched, and computer equipment was confiscated. All these actions are baseless and have led to the suspension of the Sputnik Azerbaijan agency.
The statement noted that “Igor Kartavikh’s health is causing deep concern; he needs medication, including insulin.”
The “Russia Today” group called on the Azerbaijani authorities to “immediately resolve this unacceptable situation and release our colleagues.”
Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have escalated in recent days after the Russian Investigative Committee announced that security services in Yekaterinburg had arrested a criminal gang of Azerbaijani origin, whose members are accused of murder and assassination attempts on Russian soil over the past years.
Azerbaijan lodged an official protest with Russia regarding the actions of its security services, accusing them of using violence against those detained, claiming that this resulted in the deaths of two Azerbaijani citizens and injuries to others.
In response to this incident, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture announced the cancellation of all cultural events related to Russian government and private institutions within Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani authorities also canceled a planned visit by a Russian government delegation to Baku, as well as a planned visit by an Azerbaijani parliamentary delegation to Moscow.
On Saturday, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that the Russian chargé d’affaires in Baku had provided necessary clarifications to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry regarding the detention of individuals suspected of involvement in crimes in Yekaterinburg. She added that investigations into the mentioned criminal cases are ongoing, and further details will be announced by the Russian Investigative Committee as they become available.
