Court issues decision regarding those detained in Sputnik Azerbaijan case

The court has chosen a preventive measure in the form of arrest for the director of the Information Agency Sputnik Azerbaijan Igor Kartavykh and employee Evgeny Belousov, who were detained as a result of an operation conducted by the police yesterday at the media resource's office.

As Report informs, by the decision of the Khatai District Court, they have been arrested for a period of 4 months.

They are charged under articles 178.3.1 (fraud causing large-scale damage), 192.2.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with obtaining large-scale income), 192.2.3 (committed by an organized group), 193-1.3.1 (legalization of property obtained through criminal means), 193-1.3.2 (committed on a significant scale) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.

On February 24, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan, Aykhan Hajizada, announced the liquidation of the representative office of Russia Today (Sputnik) in Azerbaijan. He stated that the media resource can receive accreditation in the country for only one correspondent.

Despite this, as it turned out, the agency continued its activities, and its employees continued to come to work.