Baku: A court hearing is underway regarding the individuals detained following the search and investigative operations conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) at the Baku office of the Rossiya Segodnya Information Agency, also known as ‘Sputnik Azerbaijan’. The Khatai District Court is reviewing motions on the application of pre-trial detention measures against them.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, by court decision, the Executive Director of ‘Sputnik Azerbaijan,’ Igor Kartavykh, and Chief Editor Yevgeny Belousov have been placed under four months of pre-trial detention. They face charges under several articles of the Criminal Code, which include fraud, illegal entrepreneurship, and the legalization of property obtained through criminal means.
The court hearing is focusing on preventive measures for the detained individuals, as submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The submission will be reviewed by the Khatai District Court. The operation conducted by the MIA at the Baku branch of Rossiya Segodnya led to the detention of seven individuals. A criminal case has been initiated, and apart from Kartavykh and Belousov, five others have been held criminally liable.
Investigative activities are continuing in the criminal case to uncover further details regarding the charges imposed. Yesterday’s detentions marked a significant development in the ongoing investigation of the alleged criminal activities at the Baku branch of the Rossiya Segodnya Information Agency.