Azerbaijan launches criminal case against Russian billionaire

Sterligov is accused of making "public anti-state calls” and "illegally crossing the Azerbaijani border.”

Baku also blamed the Russian businessman for supporting the "independence" of Nagorno-Karabakh through his posts on the social network VKontakte. "He was engaged in illegal business activities and involved his family members,” the statement said.

Earlier this month, Russian media reported that Sterligov had left Russia for Nagorno-Karabakh. During a press conference held in the city of Shusha, Sterligov revealed that his decision to move to Karabakh came after he received repeated threats in Russia, specifically for his alleged activity with the Combat Organization of Russian Nationalists (BORN), a Russian ultranationalist gang, which he denies.

Sterligov intends to start an eco-friendly food production business in Karabakh with his family. His wife, Alyona Sterligova, has already opened a fashion house in Shusha, and they plan to also replicate their famous "slodoba” — a Russian agricultural community — in Karabakh.