Zulfiyya Gurbanova, Jamila Afandiyeva, Yelena Starostina, and Gulzar Mustafayeva, editors of the Russian-language version of Sputnik Azerbaijan agency, resigned after refusing to publish the information of the Russian Ministry of Defense about the violation of the ceasefire regime "by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces during the last military operations in Nagorno-Karabakh."

"The reason for our resignation was the management's request to place a position on the website that is contrary to the position of Azerbaijan. We did not agree with that either. This was the statement of the Ministry of Defense of Russia, which accused Azerbaijan of unilaterally violating the ceasefire. We disagreed with the news publication in this form. We tried to convey to the management that it was incorrect to publish a statement against the position of Azerbaijan. They disagreed with us, and we decided to resign," Gulzar Mustafayeva said.

Sputnik-Azerbaijan is the local branch of the Russian Sputnik State Agency.

In June, Caucasus Watch reported that the work permits of the editor-in-chief of the Sputnik Azerbaijan website and the producer of the press center were not extended. The State Migration Service's "List of persons denied temporary residence permits and revoked temporary residence permits" also includes their names. The head of the Public Relations Department of the State Migration Service, Elnur Kalantarov, confirmed the information. He said that the appeals of these people to extend their work permits were rejected.