Prominent journalist freed in Azerbaijan
- 8 years ago
“Greetings! I am out of prison,” were the first words prominent Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova wrote on her Facebook account after being released on probation.
She saw her seven-and-a-half year sentence for financial crimes reduced to a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence.
Her detention was widely criticised by human rights activists. Human Rights Watch released a statement ahead of the Grand Prix to be held in Azerbaijan calling on the government to free prisoners saying, “the authorities have arrested or imprisoned dozens on politically motivated charges, including Azerbaijan’s best known investigative journalist, Khadija Ismayilova.”
The court in Baku overturned her convictions on some charges, but upheld those on illegal entrepreneurship and tax evasion. On her release she said she would continue to fight to clear her name.
“I will of course go further to the European Court and will fight until proven un-guilty on all charges. And I will hold the Azerbaija
She saw her seven-and-a-half year sentence for financial crimes reduced to a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence.
Her detention was widely criticised by human rights activists. Human Rights Watch released a statement ahead of the Grand Prix to be held in Azerbaijan calling on the government to free prisoners saying, “the authorities have arrested or imprisoned dozens on politically motivated charges, including Azerbaijan’s best known investigative journalist, Khadija Ismayilova.”
The court in Baku overturned her convictions on some charges, but upheld those on illegal entrepreneurship and tax evasion. On her release she said she would continue to fight to clear her name.
“I will of course go further to the European Court and will fight until proven un-guilty on all charges. And I will hold the Azerbaija