Continuation of the Trial of Khadija Ismayilova, Colleague of Radio Free Europe

The proceedings of the case against Khadija Ismayilova, a jailed journalist from Azerbaijan and a collaborator with the Azerbaijan section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, began in the Baku Heavy Crimes Court without her presence. The American PEN Association awarded her its annual prize on Thursday, April 16. Ismayilova, who has been working on an investigative journalism project regarding organized crime and financial corruption, has produced extensive investigative reports on the financial activities of the family members of Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan. The office of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty was attacked by Azerbaijani government agents and shut down on December 26, 2014. According to the Azerbaijani section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on Wednesday, August 12, the trial of Ms. Ismayilova began without her presence, which faced objections from her lawyer, Yalchin Imanov. The trial of this Azerbaijani journalist is being held in the presence of foreign embassy representatives and family members based on charges such as financial abuse and tax evasion when she was the head of the Azerbaijani section of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Baku, as well as two personal complaints. The previous day, the trial faced issues due to the absence of her lawyers. The judge requested 'punishment for Ms. Ismayilova's defense lawyers' due to this issue, but she stated that the court had been previously informed that her lawyers could not attend due to time constraints and involvement in other cases. However, the judge continued the session without regard to the absence of her defense lawyers. The next court session is scheduled for two weeks later. This media activist denies the charges against her and claims that her detention in December last year was politically motivated. She also objects to the individuals present in the courtroom, stating that 'the courtroom is full of people she does not know and who are unrelated to her case.' Ismayilova has called for the courtroom to be cleared of these individuals and for a representative of impartial media to be present in the court. Ismayilova was arrested in December 2014 on charges of 'inciting a former colleague to suicide.' In the meantime, Tural Mustafayev, the complainant in the case, announced that his complaint against Ismayilova was due to pressure from security forces and has since withdrawn it. Another individual named 'Elman Turkoglu' has also filed a complaint against her, claiming that she published information indicating that he had been 'threatened by Azerbaijani security forces to disclose personal matters and was thus pressured to work for them and act as an informant.' In February, Ms. Ismayilova was convicted of 'defamation' during a closed-door hearing. In March, new charges including 'tax evasion, illegal economic activities, and abuse of office' were added to her case. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has described these charges and crimes as 'baseless.'