Igor Kartavikh, executive director of “Sputnik Azerbaijan,” a subsidiary of the Russian state media group “Russia Today,” has been transferred from detention to house arrest. This was reported by Kommersant newspaper, citing a statement from Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.
According to the report, the decision to release Kartavikh, who was arrested in Baku on July 1, was made ahead of the October 9 meeting between Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe. Ushakov stated that the matter had been discussed directly with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Hikmet Hajiyev.
Dmitry Kiselyov, head of the “Russia Today” media group, confirmed that Kartavikh will remain under house arrest in Baku. Representatives of the Russian Foreign Ministry have already visited him, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova added.
Meanwhile, “Sputnik Azerbaijan” editor-in-chief Yevgeny Belousov remains in pre-trial detention.
Shortly after Kartavikh’s release, another high-profile case emerged: former head of the Moscow Satire Theater, Mamedali Agaev, was also moved from detention to house arrest. He had been arrested in August on charges of embezzling 20 million rubles.
According to an RBC source, on October 9, the Tagansky Court of Moscow reviewed Agaev’s case and ruled to keep him under house arrest.
Observers believe Kartavikh’s release may represent an important diplomatic gesture amid ongoing talks between Moscow and Baku. The development signals a potential new stage of easing relations between the two countries.
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