Kasem is a citizen of Latvia who has been living and working in Moscow for several years at the Rossiya Segodnya media group, which also includes Sputnik Lithuania.
"Fearing the renewal of criminal procedure, Marat Kasem has used an opportunity and left that country [Latvia]," Zakharova told Sputnik.
On December 30, the journalist arrived in Latvia for family reasons. He was detained over alleged violation of EU sanctions against Russia as well as espionage, and on January 5, the Riga court took him into custody. In April, the journalist was released from prison on bail.