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The case of Igor Kartavykh and its geopolitical implications
Igor Kartavykh, executive director of the Russian-state affiliate agency Sputnik Azerbaijan, was released and returned to Russia after being detained in Baku in June as part of a major operation targeting the agency amid rising tensions between Azerbaijan and Russia. He had been charged by Azerbaijani authorities with fraud and illegal business activities related to Sputnik’s Baku office — allegations described by the outlet as politically motivated.
His release reportedly followed high-level diplomacy between Vladimir Putin and Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe, and may have been tied to a deal including the release of an Azerbaijani national held in Russia. While Kartavykh is free, it remains unclear whether the charges will be dropped or pursued further — his case sheds light on how journalists, especially in foreign jurisdictions, can become entangled in diplomatic and legal disputes.
To read the full story – https://tjcproject.org/russian-journalist-released-from-custody-in-baku/