RFE/RL on Friday officially closed the Baku Office of its Azerbaijani Service.

In December of last year, the Azerbaijani authorities had suspended the activities of this office in the capital city of Azerbaijan.

The RFE/RL Editor-in-Chief for Programming, Nenad Pejic, stated that the arbitrary actions by the Azerbaijani authorities have caused severe, and in some cases irreversible, hurt and pain to the staff of the Baku Office of the RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service and their families.

Pejic also noted that RFE/RL is preparing to take the necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the radio station and its employees against the actions by the Azerbaijani government.

Nenad Pejic added, however, that the RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service continues broadcasting news and other programs, and despite the closure of its Baku Office, it is still aired via digital and satellite broadcast.