April 13, investigative reporter, and employee of AzadliqRadiosu Khadija Ismayil sent two messages from prison through her lawyer Yalchin Imanov.
“The court is expecting an order”
The first message Khadija sent is related to the Supreme Court delay in deciding on the hearing time for her case.
Lawyer Yalchin Imanov says the appeal was sent to the Supreme Court on January 19. The case has been brought the attention of the judge Ali Seyfaliyev. But despite it being 3 months there is yet an announcement to be made. “Today I went to the court to check about the dates, where I was informed the decision is yet to be made”, said Imanov in an interview with AzadliqRadiosu.
“Investigations continue”
Khadija also thanked reporters from the OCCRP. “I thank the OCCRP reporters for continuing investigations. This is extremely important."
Khadija Ismayil was arrested December 5, 2014. She was accused of tax evasion, abuse of power, illegal entrepreneurship and sentenced to 7.5 years in jail. The journalist denies the charges and says she was arrested for her investigative work, in particular for her investigations into the president and his family’s hidden businesses.
Amnesty International considers Khadija Ismayil “prisoner of conscience”.