In Azerbaijan, journalist Khadidja Ismailova refuses to perform community service

Khadidja Ismailova, a journalist of the Azerbaijani Branch of "Radio Liberty", has refused to perform community service in a place closed to the public. According to Khadidja Ismailova's report, she fears provocations.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on June 10, the Binagadi District Court of Baku sentenced Khadidja Ismailova to an alternative administrative penalty in the form of 220 hours of community service on charges of violating the procedure of organizing and holding mass actions.

On July 17, Khadidja Ismailova was summoned to the Department of execution of judgments. "They took me to the Rehabilitation Centre for persons with disabilities located in the 6^th district of Baku and offered to do cleaning in the department of functional diagnostics. When I asked them if my work would be open to the public, I was answered in the negative. I refused to work in the space closed to the public," Khadidja Ismailova has noted.

The journalist has explained her refusal by fear of possible provocations. "That has already happened. Young activist Djamil Gadjiev was insulted and beaten at the building of the Binagadi association of housing and communal services, where he had come to perform community service. I do not want to fall victim to such provocations that would be then hardly proved because of the lack of witnesses," Khadidja Ismailova has said.

The journalist has emphasized that she is ready to sweep the streets or perform any other work, but under public control.