Five Azerbaijani citizens placed under police supervision in Sputnik case

Five Azerbaijani citizens have been placed under police supervision as a preventive measure amid an ongoing investigation into the operations of "Sputnik-Azerbaijan," the local branch of the Russian state media agency. 

The individuals, whose names have not been disclosed, were questioned by authorities and released after giving testimony, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The investigation follows the February 24 announcement by Aykhan Hajizada, head of the press service at Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry, that the country was shutting down the representative office of "Russia Today" (also known as Sputnik) in Baku. Hajizada stated that under bilateral agreements, the agency could be accredited to operate with only one correspondent moving forward. At the time, Sputnik-Azerbaijan employed around 40 staff members

Despite the closure order, the agency continued its operations and employees were observed reporting to work. This prompted Azerbaijani police to launch an operation at the Sputnik-Azerbaijan office, during which Director Igor Kartavykh and staff member Yevgeny Belousov were detained.

The two Russian nationals are facing multiple criminal charges, including large-scale fraud (Article 178.3.1 of the Criminal Code), illegal entrepreneurship involving large-scale income (Article 192.2.2), and offenses committed by an organized group (Article 192.2.3). They are also accused of laundering property obtained by criminal means on a large scale (Articles 193-1.3.1 and 193-1.3.2).

Following their detention, the Khatai District Court ruled to place Kartavykh and Belousov under pre-trial arrest as the investigation continues.

By Sabina Mammadli