The court at the suit of Khadija Ismayilova against the prosecutor’s office

  On 17 August the Baku Sabail District Court presided over by the judge Azer Tagiyev held a preliminary hearing on the suit of investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova against the Baku City Prosecutor's Office. Journalist demands compensation for unjustified detention for three months on charges of incitement to suicide. As a third party the Ministry of Finances has been attracted.  During the meeting, the lawyer Yalcin Imanov said that Ismayilova was arrested on 5 December, 2014 and was charged under the Article 125 of the Criminal Code. She was kept in custody until 6 March, 2015.  When the Baku  Serious Crimes Court  on  September 1, 2015  sentenced Ismayilova to 8.5 years in prison for economic crimes, she was justified under Article 125 of the Criminal Code.

Thus, from 5 December, 2014 to 6 March, 2015 i.e. 91 days Ismayilova was detained illegally. Ismayilova assessed the total size of the material damage  at 9.300 manat. For moral damages  the  journalist demands 20.000 manat.

According to the lawyer, the prosecutor said that the defendant does not agree with the claim, and the next meeting will present an objection. The judge scheduled the next hearing for 24 August  at 10:00.

* On May 25, the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan  removed from the journalist  an accusation on  misappropriation and abuse of office, and replaced the real term of imprisonment of 3.5 years on  probation. On  8 August   the suspended  term was  lowered to 2 years and 3 months.-06D-