Diplomatic Rift: The Case of Yevgeny Belousov and Sputnik Azerbaijan

A court ruling in Azerbaijan has shifted the legal status of prominent Russian journalist Yevgeny Belousov, allowing him to leave jail for a three-month house arrest term amidst an ongoing investigation into his employer, Sputnik Azerbaijan. The development comes against a backdrop of deteriorating Russia-Azerbaijan relations.

The arrest of Belousov, alongside other colleagues from the Russian state-run outlet, was part of a broader inquiry involving accusations of fraud, illegal entrepreneurship, and money laundering. Following these detentions, Russia labeled the actions as 'illegal' and summoned Azerbaijan's ambassador in Moscow, citing the actions as 'unfriendly'.

The diplomatic tension appears to be easing, signaled by the release of Sputnik Azerbaijan's Executive Director Igor Kartavykh. This follows a diplomatic row sparked by the arrest of ethnic Azerbaijanis in Russia, linked to historical crimes, and compounded by a tragic air defense incident that strained bilateral relations. A recent meeting between President Putin and President Aliyev seems to have paved the way for Kartavykh's release.