IREX decision to cease operations in Azerbaijan will be a blow to promotion of people-to-people ties in the country, RFE/RL reported quoting State Department official.

“We have greatly valued IREX's efforts to support independent, professional media and to facilitate people-to-people ties,” the official said in a statement to RFE/RL.

The statement said U.S. officials realize this was done “following pressure from the Azerbaijani government”.

On September 30 IREX announced they had ceased operations in Azerbaijan.