Sputnik and BBC offices in Azerbaijan are closing: official Baku eliminates asymmetry

In order to eliminate the existing disparity, Azerbaijan has decided to make certain adjustments to the actual activities of foreign media representative offices and branches in our country.

As reported by Oxu.az, according to exclusive information from Caliber.az obtained from reliable sources, these adjustments will affect, in particular, Sputnik Azerbaijan, which operates in the country as a branch of MIA "Russia Today," as well as "BBC" (BBC News Azərbaycanca).

Thus, in order to eliminate the existing disparity in the representation of Azerbaijani and Russian state news agencies in Russia and Azerbaijan respectively, our country will employ the same number of MIA "Russia Today" correspondents as AZERTAC correspondents working in Russia. At the moment, this means one staff position.

Note that the Baku branch of "Russia Today" currently employs about 40 people. The branch itself is expected to be liquidated - "Russia Today" will continue to work in Azerbaijan with one correspondent, whose activities will be regulated in accordance with the legislation of Azerbaijan and the agreement between the governments of the Russian Federation and Azerbaijan Republic dated January 9, 2001, regarding the status of media correspondents.