The Azerbaijani government has ordered the suspension of BBC News Azerbaijani’s operations in Baku, the capital city. This news came as the BBC announced the “reluctant decision” to close its office after receiving a verbal instruction from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling the move a“restriction on press freedom.”
In a statement, the BBC expressed deep regret over the decision, stating it would “hinder reporting to and from Azerbaijan” for both local and international audiences. The broadcaster further stressed its commitment to continuing Azerbaijani-language reporting despite the suspension.
The Azerbaijani Government’s Demand: Reduce BBC Staff to One, Suspend Journalistic Activities
State-controlled media had been the one to report the government’s demand to reduce BBC staff in Azerbaijan to just one person. So far, the BBC’s team in Baku has suspended journalistic activities while seeking clarification on the verbal order through multiple channels.
BBC News Azerbaijani has operated in Azerbaijan since 1994, initially through radio broadcasts and later expanding to digital platforms. Prior to it’s suspension, it was reported to reach an average of one million people weekly, with a steadily growing audience.
