Azerbaijani authorities arrested two Russian journalists on Monday, marking the latest escalation in deteriorating ties between Baku and Moscow.
The two journalists—Igor Kartavykh and Yevgeny Belousov—served as the director of the editorial office and editor-in-chief, respectively, at Sputnik’s Baku bureau. According to Azerbaijani officials, the outlet was operating under "illegal financing" after its accreditation was revoked in February 2025.
Unconfirmed reports have also suggested that the two men are suspected of being agents of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), though the Azerbaijani government has not officially commented on any charges beyond the financial allegations.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Azerbaijani Ambassador to Moscow, Rahman Mustafayev, in protest of the arrests, also claiming that Russian diplomats were denied consular access to the detained journalists.
Relations between the two countries have been fraying since a December 25, 2024 plane crash involving an Azerbaijani passenger jet that killed 38 of the 67 people on board. Baku blamed Russian air defense systems for the incident, asserting they were targeting Ukrainian drones at the time.
Tensions further escalated this past Friday after Russian police conducted a raid against an organized crime group in Yekaterinburg, reportedly targeting ethnic Azerbaijanis. Two individuals died during the operation—one reportedly from a heart attack, while the other death remains under investigation. Azerbaijan labeled the incident as an “extrajudicial killing.”
In response, Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Culture canceled all upcoming events involving Russian state and private organizations, citing “targeted and extrajudicial killings” by Russian law enforcement. Additionally, Baku canceled official visits by Azerbaijani delegations to Moscow, as well as a scheduled trip by Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister.
Earlier, in May, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev declined an invitation to attend Russia’s Victory Day celebrations on May 9, an annual symbol of post-Soviet unity, signaling further diplomatic distance.
The worsening ties also come at a time of shifting regional dynamics. Armenia—traditionally a close ally of Russia—is pursuing a peace deal with Baku while finding itself in a far weaker position compared to the pre-2020 era. Observers suggest that Azerbaijan may see this as an opportune moment to exert more leverage against Moscow.