Journalist Khadidja Ismaylova accuses Baku Prosecutor's Office of violating her rights

Investigators not only fail to hold inquiry into the fact of intrusion into the privacy of Khadidja Ismaylova, a journalist of the Azerbaijani Service of Radio Liberty, but have also committed such intrusion themselves, said the journalist's advocate Adil Ismaylov. The journalist herself does not rule out that investigatory authorities may be associated with criminals.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in Azerbaijan the persons, who had earlier blackmailed Khadidja Ismaylova with a threat to make her intimate filming public, fulfilled their threat on March 14 by posting a video on her private life on the Internet. On March 15, the General Prosecutor's Office (GPO) of Azerbaijan opened a criminal case under Article 156 (violation of privacy) in connection with intrusion into Khadidja Ismaylova's privacy.

In recent days, Ismaylova made several statements for the media on the biased and deliberately protracted investigation. In this context, in the evening on April 26, the Baku City Prosecutor's Office made a statement refuting the journalist's allegations.

According to Khadidja's advocate, this new statement disclosed new information concerning his client's private life; therefore, this statement will be also challenged at court.

Ms Ismaylova herself has regarded this statement as "continuing intrusion" into her private life. She believes that "investigatory bodies are associated with the criminals, who on March 7 sent her a letter with threats and her intimate photos."

"The investigation has once again intruded not only in my private life, but in the privacy of my relatives and friends. Instead of investigating the crime, they delve in my personal affairs," said Ismaylova.

In particular, she expressed her outrage with the fact that the persons, who had installed hidden video cameras in the flat, where she lived, have not been established yet.

She noted that despite her insistence to run the inquiry not only under Article 156 (interference with privacy), but also under Article 163 (obstruction to journalist's professional work) of the Criminal Code, the Prosecutor's Office is doing nothing.

Ismaylova also said that almost simultaneously with the blackmail and posting the video on the Internet, the pro-government newspapers "Eni Azerbaijan" (the printed organ of the ruling party of the same name), "Iki Sakhil" (Two River Banks) and "Ses" (Voice) printed articles about her, which were, in her estimation, defamatory and offensive.

In her view, the order to discredit her originated from the administration of President Ilham Aliev.

"All this has to do with my journalistic investigations of corruption in the president's retinue; however, no pressure, threats or intimidation will stop me from continuation of these investigations," said Ismaylova.