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Turkey Unblocks Website of Russia's Sputnik News Agency

The Turkish authorities have reinstated access to the website of the Russian state news agency Sputnik, the RIA Novosti news agency reported Monday, citing the head of the Turkish Sputnik bureau, Mahir Boztepe.

This was also confirmed by Turkey's Telecommunications Authority, the news agency reported.

Ankara blocked the website in April. Shortly afterwards, the chief editor of Sputnik in Turkey, Tural Kerimov was barred from entering the country. He was also deprived of his journalist accreditation and residence permit.

The blocking of Sputnik's website caused a sharp reaction in Russia, with the Foreign Ministry calling it “yet another violation of fundamental human rights and freedoms.” Sputnik meanwhile continued its work, posting materials on Facebook and Twitter.

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