During his visit to Baku OSCE MG Co-Chair Matthew Bryza raised the issues of arrested Azerbaijani bloggers and foreign radio stations’ going off air in Baku. He touched upon the issue at press conference, August 12, 2009 after the meeting with Ilham Aliyev.

“We have put the points before the President Ilham Aliyev and suppose that this problem should be solved within the frames of human rights’ protection of Azerbaijani citizens and give a stimulus to the provision of freedom of speech,” Bryza said.

“Ol” Youth Movement leader Adnan Hajizade and “Alumni Netwerk” Youth Network head Emin Milli were arrested and charged with hooliganism.

Since 2008 the broadcasting of Radio Liberty, Voice of America and BBC in Azerbaijan is banned. He mentioned that U.S. expects the “response” to their suggestions to resume the broadcasting. This year U.S. offered to resume the broadcasting of these radio stations in exchange to the broadcasting of Azerbaijani radio stations in U.S.