UN Human Rights office is concerned about detention of Russian journalists

(MENAFN) The UN Human Rights office (OHCHR) voiced concern on Friday regarding press freedom in Azerbaijan following the detention of several Russian journalists. Moscow has condemned the arrests as “unlawful.”

On Monday, Azerbaijani police raided the Baku office of Russia’s Sputnik news agency, detaining two senior editors along with five others. Sputnik faces allegations including fraud, illegal business activities, and money laundering—charges the agency dismissed as “absurd.” Additionally, a Ruptly editor was arrested while filming outside the building.

“[UN] High Commissioner Volker Turk has repeatedly stated that he is concerned about the situation with press freedom in Azerbaijan and the detention of journalists,” OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reports. She added that the UN is closely monitoring the situation and gathering more details before offering further commentary.

In response to the arrests, Moscow accused Azerbaijan of “hostile actions and unlawful detention of Russian journalists,” demanding their immediate release. Russia’s consul in Baku met with the detainees on Thursday and reportedly found them in satisfactory condition.

Tensions between Russia and Azerbaijan have risen following police operations in the Russian city of Ekaterinburg targeting an alleged organized crime group composed of Russian nationals of Azerbaijani descent. The group is accused of numerous contract killings dating back to the early 2000s. Two elderly suspects died during the police raid, with preliminary findings suggesting one suffered heart failure. This sparked outrage in Baku, which accused Moscow of targeting people of Azerbaijani origin and claimed the men were murdered while in custody.

Further straining relations, Azerbaijani authorities detained eight more Russian nationals on Tuesday, accusing them of involvement in cybercrime and drug trafficking allegedly operating from Iran. Some of these suspects were IT specialists who left Russia after the Ukraine conflict began, and one was reportedly a tourist.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is negotiating the release of its citizens through law enforcement channels and vowed to protect their “legitimate interests” using “all available means.”

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