Term of Arrest of Khadija Ismayilova Extended for Two Months

Today Nasimi District Court extended the arrest of the journalist Khadija Ismayilova until May 24. Turan was told by her lawyer Fariz Namazly.

Recall that Ismayilova was arrested on December 5, 2014 on charges of incitement to suicide.

However, on February 13, prosecutors filed three articles on her case - 179.3.2 (embezzlement in large size), 192.2.2 (illegal business with the extraction of a large income) and 308.2 (abuse of power, resulting in grave consequences) of the Criminal Code.

The investigation motivates keeping Ismayilova in custody so that she can allegedly put pressure on the witnesses and abscond. Extension of the investigation is also justified by the need for more expert opinions.

Ismayilova called the charges absurd and rejected them. She also pointed out that, as head of the Baku bureau of Radio Azadlig, she had no authority to hire and deal with financial issues. She was only a coordinator between the Baku Office and the Prague office.

With regard to the allegations of incitement to suicide, Ismayilova required to bring to the court Tural Mustafayev, whom she had allegedly driven to suicide. At this point the judge interrupted Ismayilova and suggested that she speak to the point of the charges.

The lawyer Namazly did not exclude that the court's decision will be appealed. -16D-