Who owns newly opened Euronews office in Baku?

Euronews office in Baku

According to a report by Meydan.tv

A local office of the Euronews channel has opened in Baku, with media representatives, diplomats and other guests attending the inauguration.

Pedro Vargas David, chairman of the Euronews board, said in his speech that the media group he leads has always maintained a balanced position on Azerbaijan and has faced pressure precisely because of this stance.

He welcomed the opening of the Baku office as a positive step for a respected European media outlet.

Over the past two years, around 30 journalists have been arrested in Azerbaijan. In March and April 2025, authorities shut down local offices of the BBC, Reuters, Voice of America and Bloomberg, or restricted accreditation to just one employee per outlet.

Independent local media such as Abzas Media, Toplum TV and Meydan TV have been unable to continue operating in the country, with their staff currently under arrest.

How was Euronews able to open an office in Azerbaijan?

Euronews was launched on 1 January 1993 and operated as an independent media outlet for decades. However, in 2024, the channel underwent leadership changes.

Klaus Strunz, known for his right-wing background at the German publication Bild, became the new director. Strunz is anti-immigrant, pro-Israel, and has been linked to business ties with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who, according to Politico, wields significant influence over the channel.

Investigative reporting has also highlighted connections between Euronews’ main owner, Alpac Capital, and Orbán and his inner circle. Critics say these developments cast doubt on the channel’s independence. In recent years, Euronews has produced reports praising Azerbaijan’s natural beauty, oil revenues, and economic situation.

Pedro Vargas David, the former chairman, faced criticism for his stance on Azerbaijan, which was also referenced during the Baku office opening. French newspaper Le Monde reported that in 2022 Vargas sold the channel to a company linked to Orbán through questionable deals.

Orbán is known in Europe for his right-wing and anti-democratic statements. He is a close ally of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and is seen as supporting the Azerbaijani government in European policy decisions.

According to Politico, Euronews, which has undergone “drastic changes,” risks losing its independence in Azerbaijan. With the country ranking near the bottom of Reporters Without Borders’ press freedom index and continuing to push out independent media, questions remain over the conditions under which Euronews will operate and whether it can maintain editorial independence.

Euronews office in Baku