Kiselyov stated that this rapprochement must be bilateral, and those who ordered the arrests were fully aware that, since there were no objections to the journalists’ work, this would only deteriorate relations between Russia and Azerbaijan.

Now would be the right chance to release Sputnik Azerbaijan’s editorial director, Igor Kartavykh, and editor-in-chief Yevgeny Belousov, as a gesture toward rebuilding ties between our countries. The effort must come from both sides, Kiselyov told Sputnik on Wednesday.

He remembered that Sputnik Azerbaijan journalists, Russian citizens, have been jailed in Azerbaijan for a month on baseless charges.

Kiselyov reiterated that the editorial line of the group, including Sputnik, has always promoted “strengthening friendship and cooperation with the countries where we operate.”

On June 30, Azerbaijani authorities arrested seven Sputnik Azerbaijan journalists, including Kartavykh and Belousov, and sentenced them to four months in prison.

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