The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned Azerbaijani Ambassador Rakhman Mustafayev in protest over what it described as “unfriendly actions” by Baku, including the unlawful detention of Russian journalists and a police operation targeting the Sputnik Azerbaijan news agency.
“In light of the unfriendly actions of Baku and the unlawful detention of Russian journalists, against whom the Azerbaijani authorities had no claims over the years, the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan has been summoned to the Foreign Ministry,” the Ministry told TASS.
Tensions escalated following a raid by Azerbaijani law enforcement on the offices of Sputnik Azerbaijan, a local branch of the Russian state-affiliated media group. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Internal Affairs confirmed that an operation was conducted but did not provide details on the legal basis or outcomes.
According to RT Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan, employees of the Sputnik Azerbaijan office ceased all communication following the operation, raising concerns in Moscow over their safety and the transparency of the Azerbaijani authorities’ actions.
Moscow has demanded explanations and the immediate release of any detained journalists, stressing that the media should not become a target in political disagreements.
