**Russian Propaganda Media Sputnik Shuts Down Operations in Azerbaijan Amid Tensions**
In a shocking move, Russian state-funded propaganda media outlet Sputnik has ceased operations in Azerbaijan. The decision was announced by Russia Today media group CEO Dmitry Kiselyov on July 3, according to the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
“We regret to say that, as of today, the conditions for Sputnik Azerbaijan to continue its activities in this country are not in place,” Kiselyov said. This move comes at a time when relations between Russia and Azerbaijan have deteriorated significantly.
**Detention of Sputnik Employees Sparked Diplomatic Row**
The closure of Sputnik’s bureau is linked to the detention of several employees by Azerbaijani police on June 30. Two of those detained were operatives of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB), prompting a formal protest from Moscow. Kiselyov called the charges “far-fetched,” saying that the staff had worked to develop cooperation between Azerbaijan and Russia.
However, this incident was not an isolated one. A deadly operation in Russia’s Yekaterinburg on June 27, where Russian security forces killed two Azerbaijani nationals and injured several others, further strained relations. The diplomatic rupture deepened after Azerbaijani authorities arrested eight Russian citizens the next day, presenting them in court handcuffed and visibly injured.
**Escalating Tensions Between Russia and Azerbaijan**
The closure of Sputnik’s bureau marks a new low in relations between the two former Soviet states, which have seen escalating tensions despite longstanding ties. The diplomatic row has been fueled by allegations of ethnically motivated violence against Azerbaijani nationals in Russia.
This move is also significant given that Sputnik, a key pillar of the Kremlin’s global propaganda network, has long been accused by Western governments and media watchdogs of spreading disinformation and pro-Russian narratives.
**What’s Next?**
The implications of this move are far-reaching. As tensions continue to escalate between Russia and Azerbaijan, it remains to be seen how this will impact relations between the two countries. One thing is certain – the closure of Sputnik’s bureau marks a significant shift in the diplomatic landscape between these two former Soviet states.
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