Accessibility links

Breaking News

Latvian Authorities Arrest Editor Of Russia's Sputnik State News Agency


According to Sputnik, Sputnik Editor in Chief Maret Kasem traveled to Latvia from Vilnius due to family issues and may be charged with espionage.
According to Sputnik, Sputnik Editor in Chief Maret Kasem traveled to Latvia from Vilnius due to family issues and may be charged with espionage.

Latvian authorities have arrested the editor in chief of Russia's Sputnik state news agency in Lithuania, Marat Kasem, on a charge of violating sanctions imposed on Russia. Sputnik says a court in Riga issued a warrant for Kasem's arrest on January 5. According to Sputnik, Kasem traveled to Latvia from Vilnius due to family issues and may be charged with espionage, which has not been confirmed by any other source. The European Union banned operations of Sputnik and its umbrella company RT in March over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. To read the original story from RFE/RL, click here.

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL

    RFE/RL journalists report the news in 27 languages in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We provide what many people cannot get locally: uncensored news, responsible discussion, and open debate.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG