The European Union delegation in Baku said in a statement it "encouraged Azerbaijan to maintain an open dialogue with members of civil society organizations expressing views and opinions in a peaceful manner... (and) to ensure due process in all recent cases of arrest of youth activists."

Azerbaijan security forces detained over 40 people on Friday, March 11, after anti-government activists used social media to call for street protests.

According to Reuters, the Human Rights House, a partner of the international human rights network and operational in Azerbaijan since 2007, said it was ordered by the Justice Ministry to cease current activities unless agreed upon with authorities. "The Human Rights House believes this measure is part of the escalated repression of the civil society in the last few weeks in connection with calls for pro-democracy demonstrations in March," the organization said in a statement.