Azerbaijan Orders Closure of BBC Office in Baku

The Azerbaijani government has ordered the closure of the BBC's office in Baku, citing a lack of 'legal grounds' for its operation, which the BBC denounced as a violation of press freedom. The decision follows ongoing concerns about media repression in Azerbaijan, where 21 journalists are currently imprisoned, according to Reporters Without Borders. The BBC, which has been operating in Azerbaijan since 1994 and reaches approximately one million listeners weekly, expressed regret over the shutdown, stating it would hinder reporting in and out of the country. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry referenced the principle of reciprocity in its decision but did not provide detailed explanations. The closure comes amid accusations against President Ilham Aliyev's administration for stifling independent media and persecuting dissenting voices. This action reflects a broader trend of tightening control over foreign media operations in Azerbaijan, with similar measures reportedly taken against other foreign outlets.