A private television channel in Azerbaijan was closed by authorities on Friday (July 29) after it filmed comments made by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen, Reuters reports.

The staff of ANS TV could be seen standing outside the building, denied access to their offices after a court ordered the closure.

"Today the court ruled to suspend the license of ANS TV. Naturally, we do not agree with this decision and will appeal to the respective judicial institutions. The court admitted that we never announced (ran trailers for) this interview (with Fethullah Gulen). We hope that justice will soon prevail," said the Vice President of the ANS group of companies, Marsahin Agayev.

While Mr Agayev said that the company's license was suspended, Azeri media reported that the license had been annulled.

The footage, of a news conference given by Gulen in the U.S., was filmed by ANS TV but not broadcast.

Azerbaijan's National Television and Radio council was quoted by Azeri media as saying that, "The channel's coverage contradicted the relations of brotherhood and strategic partnership between the Azeri and Turkish peoples."

The council had previously suspended the channel's license on July 18 for one month for filming Gulen.

Turkey says Gulen was the mastermind behind the failed July 15-16 putsch against the government of President Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen denies any involvement and accused Erdogan on Friday of being "poisoned" by power.

Turkish authorities have detained, suspended or placed under investigation tens of thousands of teachers, police, journalists and other people since the July 15-16 putsch over suspected links to Gulen.