Photo credit: Elena Cherysheva / freeze frame / ETV Pluss / youtube.com
Moscow demanded that the Estonian authorities release the Russian journalist Elena Cherysheva as soon as possible. According to the MFA, Tallinn must ensure the observance of her rights and freedoms. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called the accusations against Cherysheva "absurd" and "ridiculous."
As Russkiy Mir
reported, the Estonian security police detained former Sputnik Meedia employees Elena Cherysheva and Mati-Dmitry Terestal. They are suspected of violating international sanctions. According to their colleagues, they have not been able to contact the detainees since yesterday.
Sputnik Meedia was forced to suspend its operations a month ago. Cherysheva, editor-in-chief of the media, said that the decision was made under pressure from the authorities. The employees were suspected of money laundering, terrorist financing, and even they illegal sale of alcohol.
Now Cherysheva and Terestal are suspected of allegedly transferring money received from Russia to a person against whom sanctions have been imposed. They also continued to operate Sputnik Meedia even after the sanctions were imposed, the procecution office claims.
The day before, the police raided the journalists' residences with a search, which went on for eight hours. After that, the journalists did not get in touch.
Russkiy Mir
