US brinkmanship closed OSCE office in Baku, claim diplomats

Azerbaijan was reported in June 2015 to have notified the Organisation for Security and Cooperation and Europe (OSCE) to end its activity in the country and leave.

While some media sources saw this as a response to the organisation's criticism of Azerbaijan's human rights and media freedom record, EurActiv learnt that it might instead have been a consequence of pressures from the West to step up calls for regime change in the country.

• Primary Source

Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, 10.06.15: Azerbaijan Orders OSCE To Close Baku Office http://www.rferl.org/content/article/27055923.html

OSCE: OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Baku http://www.osce.org/baku

ESO: Background information: EU-Azerbaijan: reaffirmed commitment to promote democracy and human rights http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-eu-azerbaijan-reaffirmed-commitment-to-promote-democracy-and-human-rights/

ESO: Background information: Azerbaijan: Human rights situation http://www.europeansources.info/record/azerbaijan-human-rights-situation/

The Moscow Times, 10.06.15: Azerbaijan Set to Host European Games Amid Criticism of Rights Record http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/azerbaijan-set-to-host-european-games-amid-criticism-of-rights-record/523368.html

EurActiv, 21.09.16: Azerbaijan says US pressure led to OSCE Baku closure http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/azerbaijan-says-us-pressure-led-to-osce-baku-closure/

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