Khadija Ismayilova sentenced to 7.5 years imprisonment

On Tuesday, the Baku Court on Grave Crimes announced the verdict to the journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who investigated the corruption facts in the authorities and cooperated to the Radio “Liberty”. She was sentenced to seven and half years in prison in colony of general regime.  In addition, she was deprived the right to take a post in state and municipal bodies for three years.

According to Azerbaijani branch of Radio “Liberty”, Ismayilova found guilty in embezzlement, tax evasion, abuse of power and running an illegal business. The Court quashed a charge under Article “inciting to suicide”.

Yesterday, the journalist made a final statement in the court.  Shortly before the end of her speech, the judge interrupted her, saying that the defendant says ‘not on the merits’. Speech of Ismayilova was interrupted when she had mentioned the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and other high-ranking officials.

The journalist refutes the charges brought against her and states that the case against her fabricated on political motives – as a revenge for publication about corruption in higher echelons of Azerbaijani authority, including the financial abuses of the President Ilham Aliyev and members of his family.

Khadija Ismayilova has been awarded many international prizes in field of journalism.

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