Azerbaijan completes preliminary investigation into Khadija Ismayilova's case

Azerbaijan has completed the preliminary investigation into the case against journalist Khadija Ismayilova. The defence treats the charges as unfounded and intends to appeal to the court with a request to stop criminal proceedings and to release the arrested journalist.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Khadija Ismayilova is accused of inciting her former colleague Tural Mustafaev to a suicide attempt. Meanwhile, he publicly confessed that he had defamed Khadija Ismayilova. The case of incitement to suicide attempt is combined with one more case, in which Khadija Ismayilova is accused of embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurial activities, and abuse of power. Khadija Ismayilova faces up to 12 years of imprisonment.

On June 22, the Investigating Department for Serious Crimes of the General Prosecutor's Office announced the completion of the preliminary investigation into the case against Khadija Ismayilova. This was told to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent by Fakhraddin Mekhdiev, an advocate of the journalist.

According to the advocate, starting from June 23, the Khadija Ismayilova's advocates will begin, one after another, to examine the materials of the criminal case. Fakhraddin Mekhdiev believes that all the charges filed against the journalist are unfounded.

"Khadija Ismayilova did not commit the crimes imputed to her. She was engaged in journalistic activities. She regularly paid taxes, and Khadija was not involved in any entrepreneurial activities," Fakhraddin Mekhdiev has stated.

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