The United States said it is “deeply disturbed” by Azerbaijan's raid and closure of a US-funded radio station in Baku.
Radio Azadliq, the Azerbaijani service of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was raided by armed police on Friday morning. The Azerbaijan prosecutor general’s office said the search was conducted to investigate a “grave crime”, but no further details were offered.
Kenan Aliyev, director of the radio station, told AFP,
"Our equipment and computers are being confiscated... Journalists are being forced out of the office."
The United States said it was “deeply disturbed” by the raid, with a senior US Stated Department official who spoke anonymously telling Reuters,
"We call on the responsible authorities to respect Azerbaijan's international commitment to protecting media freedom."