Statement of the Committee to Protect Civil Society on the judicial sentence against Khadija Ismailova

On  1 September  the Baku Serious Crimes Court sentenced a well-known investigative journalist Khadija Ismailova to 7.5 years in prison. The court found her guilty under  the Articles 179 (misappropriation and embezzlement), 192 (illegal business), 213 (tax evasion) and 308 (abuse of power), despite the fact that all the charges had not been confirmed in the course of judicial proceedings and were rejected by the journalist and her protection.

This verdict was expected, because it was politically motivated and aimed at  neutralization of  Ismailova’s activity, who  investigated  corruption in the higher echelons of power.

Justification of  Ismailova under  the Article 125 (inciting to suicide), on the basis of which the journalist was arrested, clearly demonstrates the customized nature of the process that has nothing to with justice.

Activities Ismailova and persecution that she was subjected to in recent years, including the invasion of privacy, accompanied by dirty lies and slander in government and pro-governmental  media are also a shining example of attitude towards  her at a high level.

The past trial and the sentence against  her  is the apotheosis of a dirty campaign against Ismayilova,  and  is a black stain on the reputation of the judiciary and the state,  and the whole society.

The Azerbaijani authorities must stop harmful practices  of persecution of people just because they  express the right to think freely and express their views.

We urge the authorities to cancel the politically motivated verdict against Khadija Ismayilova, release her, and give the journalist an opportunity to continue their work, which is so society needs.

We also call on the authorities to stop the pressure on civil society, and to begin a dialogue with the citizens loyal to the ideas of a just society and a democratic state.—0--