Journalist Ismayilova, arrested in Azerbaijan, has no complaints about custody conditions

The investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, arrested in Azerbaijan, has no complaints about her custody and treatment conditions.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 5 Khadija Ismayilova was questioned at the Baku City Prosecutor's Office, after which the court ruled to put her into custody as accused of incitement to a suicide attempt of her former colleague Tural Mustafaev. Her defence treats the accusation as absurd and her arrest as illegal.

"Khadija is kept in the Kyuradakhan SIZO (pre-trial prison) in a standard cell, together with four other women, who also have no previous criminal records. Khadija is not exposed to any pressure from her cellmates or SIZO staff," Afgan Mukhtarly, an investigative journalist and a member of the public committee in defence of Ismayilova's rights, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

According to his story, in accordance with the legislation, Ismayilova is allowed twice a week to have 15-minute-long telephone talks with relatives or friends. Besides, once a week she receives food parcels from her family, and is timely provided with necessary medication.

At the same time, as noted by Mukhtarly, Ismayilova rejects all the accusations brought against her and finds them to be politically motivated.

Yalchin Imanov, Ismayilova's advocate, has confirmed that she has no problems with custody and treatment conditions. However, as he noted, "the very fact of keeping an innocent person in custody is causing her mental sufferings."

"After all, the charges brought against her are absurd. There is no proof of Khadija's guilt. It is absurd to state that she had brought that guy to a suicide attempt," said the lawyer.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.