Baku Arrests Russian Citizens, Including Sputnik Staff

Azerbaijani media report that law enforcement officers in Baku have arrested two organized crime groups which included Russian citizens. They are suspected of drug trafficking from Iran, distributing drugs via the internet, and cybercrimes.

As a result of operational-investigative measures at the Sputnik Azerbaijan agency in Baku, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan arrested another 7 people under articles for fraud, illegal entrepreneurship, and laundering of criminally obtained property.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow hopes to secure the release of the arrested Sputnik Azerbaijan employees in Azerbaijan through direct contacts with Baku.

The Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Rahman Mustafayev, was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he was given a verbal note of protest. The ambassador had also been summoned to the ministry yesterday due to the "illegal arrest of Russian journalists." Ministry representative Dmitry Masyuk stated that "certain forces are making efforts to create a rift in the relations between Moscow and Baku."