The authorities of Russia and Azerbaijan, as a result of negotiations, released one detainee each on the territory of both countries, Vladimir Putin's assistant Yuri Ushakov told 'Kommersant'. The Azerbaijani side released the executive director of the news agency 'Sputnik Azerbaijan' Igor Kartavykh, it is not reported whom Russia released.
Kartavykh was detained on June 30 during searches at the office of 'Sputnik Azerbaijan'. Azerbaijani media called the agency's employees 'FSB agents' who worked 'undercover'. In addition, law enforcement detained six more employees of Sputnik, including the bureau's chief editor Yevgeny Belousov. Kartavykh and Belousov were sent to a pre-trial detention center on charges of fraud, illegal entrepreneurship, and legalization of property obtained through criminal means.
On October 9, Vladimir Putin met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in Dushanbe for the first time in a long while and acknowledged responsibility for the crash of the 'Azerbaijan Airlines' (AZAL) passenger plane, which was flying from Baku to Grozny on December 25, 2024.
The second active phase of the conflict between the two countries occurred this summer when police in Yekaterinburg killed two Azerbaijanis during a raid. This was followed by harsh detentions on both sides, as a result of which 'Sputnik Azerbaijan' employees were also detained.