BBC Closes Azerbaijan Office

The government of Azerbaijan has demanded the suspension of BBC's Azerbaijani service office operations in Baku, Orda reports, citing the BBC's Russian Service.

In a statement released Thursday, the BBC said it made a "forced decision" to close its office in the country following a verbal instruction from Azerbaijan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Azerbaijani media reported that the country's authorities intend to reduce BBC's staff to just one person in Azerbaijan. It was noted that the BBC had not received any written orders from the Azerbaijani government.

Previously, Azerbaijan also reduced Sputnik's staff.