(MENAFN) Dmitry Peskov emphasized the importance of preserving the traditionally strong ties between the two nations, despite the current strain.

The arrests took place last week during a police raid on the Baku office of Sputnik Azerbaijan, a local branch of the Russian state media agency. Among those detained are senior editors Igor Kartavykh and Evgeny Belousov. Azerbaijani officials have accused the group of fraud and illegal business practices, claims that Sputnik has rejected as baseless.

Peskov told reporters on Monday that Moscow remains in constant dialogue with Baku and is pursuing all legal and diplomatic options to protect its citizens. He also noted that top Russian officials, including Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov and Investigative Committee head Aleksandr Bastrykin, are in direct contact with their Azerbaijani counterparts.

Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s desire to maintain its close partnership with Azerbaijan, stating that both countries share a deep historical connection and a common future. He urged that all disputes be handled constructively and in line with the cooperative spirit of their bilateral relationship.

The arrests followed a Russian police raid in Ekaterinburg that targeted an alleged criminal network made up of Russian nationals of Azerbaijani origin. Two elderly suspects died during the operation, reportedly due to heart failure and other causes, though Azerbaijani authorities allege the men were killed while in custody and have launched a homicide investigation.

Following the Ekaterinburg raid, Azerbaijan carried out several actions seen by Moscow as retaliatory, including the crackdown on Sputnik Azerbaijan. Russia’s Foreign Ministry denounced the arrests as unlawful and summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador to protest the move.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has cautioned that third-party forces may be trying to undermine Russian-Azerbaijani relations. She emphasized that continued friendly ties are vital and warned against further escalation of tensions.

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