Twelve employees of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Baku bureau were forcibly detained by the Azerbaijani authorities for questioning, with more ordered to appear for questioning on December 29 or face similar detentions. All twelve were released without charge after being questioned for up to 12 hours in the latest crackdown against the activities of RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service, called Radio Azadliq. Those physically summoned for questioning were not allowed legal representation.The office raid and forced questioning come as prosecutors are investigating the Azadliq office as a foreign-funded entity. It came two days after state prosecutors ransacked and shut down the Baku bureau of the U.S.-government-funded broadcaster.
Siyavoush Novruzov, a high-ranking member of the ruling Yeni Azerbaycan Party, defended the raid as a national security issue. He said it was necessary to close the bureau to prevent espionage, adding, "every place that works for foreign intelligence and the Armenian lobby should be raided."
The focus on RFE/RL comes during a wider crackdown on independent journalists, activists, and nongovernment organizations. As many as 15 journalists and bloggers are currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan, including Khadija Ismayilova, an investigative reporter and RFE/RL contributor.
Other detainees include Leyla Yunus, one of the country's best-known human rights activists, whose work includes the promotion of normalized ties with neighboring Armenia. She and her husband, Arif, are currently being held in pretrial detention on charges including high treason.