برچسب: eurasia

A ‍court in Azerbaijan has sentenced two senior officials⁣ from⁤ the Russian ⁤state-backed Sputnik News Agency‍ to four​ months in prison, according⁣ to‌ a report by webangah News Agency.

The Baku court convicted Igor Kartavykh,editor-in-chief of Sputnik Azerbaijan,and ⁤ Yevgeny ​belousov,the outlet’s⁢ managing ‌director,on⁣ unspecified charges.Official details regarding the allegations or legal basis for the ruling have not yet ⁢been released.

Sputnik, a Kremlin-supported Russian-language⁣ media outlet, has previously ‌faced legal restrictions in several countries.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a release that during a meeting ‌between Russia’s⁢ Deputy Foreign⁣ minister and ⁣Azerbaijan’s Ambassador, Moscow formally protested Baku’s “unfriendly actions” to the envoy. A note demanding the immediate‌ release of detained Russian journalists was​ also​ handed to Azerbaijan’s ambassador.

The ministry further emphasized that​ law enforcement ⁢actions in Yekaterinburg fully complied with Russian legal ⁢statutes. It condemned Baku’s attempts to accuse Russian authorities of power abuse as​ interference in Moscow’s internal affairs.

Russia formally communicated its protest​ over ⁣Azerbaijan’s treatment of detained russian journalists‌ during a Tuesday meeting between ‍a Russian⁤ deputy foreign minister and Azerbaijan’s ambassador, webangah News Agency reported, citing Sputnik News Agency.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that during the ‍diplomatic encounter,Moscow conveyed its objections regarding what it termed Baku’s “unfriendly​ measures.” officials also handed the Azerbaijani ambassador a formal note demanding the prompt release of⁢ the detained reporters.

The ministry further ⁣emphasized that such actions ⁢violate bilateral agreements on media cooperation and could damage relations between the two nations.

The statement follows Azerbaijan’s retaliatory measures after Russian security ⁤forces raided Azerbaijani⁣ residences in Yekaterinburg, detaining nine individuals. Baku has shut down Sputnik’s office in Azerbaijan ​and arrested two of its employees.

webangah⁣ News Agency ⁣- Kremlin spokesperson ‍Dmitry Peskov ​stated on ​Tuesday that Russia strongly condemns Kyiv’s attacks on civilian‌ areas,⁣ emphasizing ⁢Moscow’s preference for achieving its objectives in ​Ukraine through political and⁢ diplomatic means.‌ He added that Russian forces are taking necessary measures to minimize risks from Ukrainian strikes on Russian cities,stressing that Moscow⁢ has no interest in delaying negotiations regarding ⁢Ukraine.

Peskov further noted that ‍Russia​ will neither slow nor ⁣halt ⁢the implementation ​of existing agreements with Ukraine. however, he ‌described discussions about accelerating negotiation progress between the two countries as⁣ “difficult.” The Kremlin also ⁢criticized the United States for its efforts toward resolving the crisis.

The Kremlin is closely monitoring reports about the detention of employees from Sputnik Azerbaijan and raptly, stated Dmitry Peskov. Moscow hopes that direct dialog with baku will lead to the release of the detained Russian journalists.

According to webangah News Agency, Russia’s ​Defense ⁢Ministry announced on Tuesday that its air defense systems intercepted and ⁣destroyed 60 Ukrainian‌ drones⁢ over multiple regions of the country.

The ministry stated that ⁣Russian air defenses successfully neutralized the drones overnight ​across ​eight ⁤areas, ‍including Crimea,⁢ Rostov, Kursk, Saratov, Belgorod, Voronezh, and Oryol regions, as​ well as the Azov and⁤ Black Seas.

The official release‍ emphasized Moscow’s commitment to ⁤prioritizing countermeasures against hostile aerial threats in its airspace.

A Russian​ su-34 fighter jet ‌crashed on Tuesday in the Nizhny Novgorod region, according to webangah News Agency citing ⁣Mehr⁤ News‍ Agency adn Defense Blog.

Reports indicate the two-seater combat aircraft ⁣went down near Kolbaki, not far ‍from the Savasleyka military airfield.

Preliminary ‌information suggests both pilots ejected ‍safely before impact using parachutes.

No updates have been released regarding the pilots’ ⁤condition at this time.

Russia’s Federal Security ⁢Service (FSB) has discovered a Ukrainian military storage facility in the Donetsk‌ region containing hand-made barrels filled with the toxic chemical ⁤ chloropicrin, according to a report by⁢ webangah News Agency. The FSB stated ⁣that the arsenal belonged to Ukraine’s armed forces.

The security⁢ service also confirmed that the finding was made in cooperation with Russia’s‌ Ministry of Defense.

Moscow has ⁣repeatedly warned about the ‌use of such chemical materials in ⁢the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

According to webangah News Agency, citing Associated Press, a Russian-installed official in Ukraine’s ‌Luhansk⁢ region stated ⁣that Moscow’s ‌forces ‍have wholly “liberated” the territory. Luhansk is one of four⁤ regions Russia claimed to annex in September 2022 ‌after launching its war against Ukraine.

If confirmed, this‍ would mark the first Ukrainian region⁤ to‍ fall ​entirely under⁢ Russian control⁤ as the invasion began.

Kyiv has not yet responded⁣ to claims ‍made by‍ Leonid Pasechnik during an appearance on Russian state television, where he asserted receiving ⁣a report confirming “100% of Luhansk is now under Russian control” two days prior.

The declaration follows German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s statement about⁤ Berlin’s ​decision to expedite weapons production for Ukraine, aiming to strengthen Kyiv’s position in ⁤ongoing peace negotiations⁣ with Moscow.

according to⁣ webangah News Agency, citing Sputnik News Agency, Azerbaijani security forces in Baku arrested Igor Kartavekh,​ sputnik‌ Azerbaijan’s editor-in-chief, and Yevgeny⁢ Belousov, the agency’s editor.

Local media reports allege thay​ are “operatives of Russia’s Federal ⁢Security Service (FSB).” the Sputnik editorial team​ has dismissed these accusations as baseless.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated earlier that ⁢consular staff from the Russian Embassy in Baku were denied access to detained Russian journalists without clarification. “For over two hours, our diplomats have been unable to establish ‍contact with them-this is deeply concerning,” she⁢ said. The embassy has notified Azerbaijan’s foreign Ministry, Interior Ministry, and State⁢ Security Service but has yet to receive⁤ a response.

The Russian Foreign Ministry afterward announced it had summoned Azerbaijan’s ambassador over Baku’s “unfriendly actions against Russian journalists.”

webangah​ News ​Agency​ reports that Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations stated during today’s Security Council session: ‌ The release of ⁣Israeli captives (held‍ by Hamas) can only⁣ be achieved through an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

The Russian official emphasized ⁣that Israel’s expanding settlements in the ​West Bank and Jerusalem constitute the main barrier to peace. He further called on Israel to end its war against Gaza’s population⁢ by implementing a ceasefire.

According⁢ to ⁤ webangah News Agency, Ukraine has issued maximum alert status in‌ the regions of Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Poltava, Cherkasy, kyiv, and Chernihiv. The Ukrainian government has not⁢ yet released an official statement regarding this development, though eurovision TV reported the country is facing an attack from Russia.