CE’s European Commissioner and the OSCE Special Representative welcomes the release of Hahija Ismayilova

The European Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muzhnieks welcomed the release of journalist Khadija Ismayilova. In his microblog on Twitter, he wrote:

" I am glad to see investigative journalist and human rights defender Khadija Ismayilova finally released from detention after the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan reduced her prison term from 7 1/2 years to a suspended term of 3 1/2 years today. As I have underscored several times, including in a third party intervention before the European Court of Human Rights, Ms Ismayilova had been wrongly detained, so her release today was long-overdue. I urge the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure that Ms Ismayilova can continue her work without impediment and to release all remaining people who are still deprived of their liberty for expressing their views."

In turn, the OSCE Special Representative on Freedom of the Press Dunja Mijatovic was brief and emotional.   "The sun shines again! Khadijah Ismayilova @Khadija_Ismayil is free! Hope all charges will be dropped.” -16D-