Activists claim ban on visiting Ismayilova

The colony administration has not allowed to visit the journalist Khadija Ismayilova, and refused to receive bouquets and gifts addressed to her, said activists of the "Civil Society Platform" (CSP).

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 1, 2015, a court in Baku sentenced Ismayilova to 7.5 years in prison, finding her guilty of illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, misappropriation, embezzlement and abuse of office.

To visit Ismayilova, a delegation of 10 activists and journalists arrived in the colony. Oktay Gyulalyev, a member of the CSP and the head of the Public Alliance "Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners", said that now they would try to pass the gifts with Ismayilova's relatives.

Shakhveled Chobanoglu, an investigative journalist, has treated the ban on visits as a violation of Ismayilova's rights.

Ainur Imranova, a journalist, believes that the ban imposed on activists to meet Ismayilova is an indication of "authorities' fear."

Elmira Ismayilova, Khadija's mother, said that she is proud of her daughter.

Let us remind you that while in prison Ismayilova translated the book about the struggle for freedom by the American writer of Iranian origin Sakhar Delizhani "Children of Lilac Bush". Khadija's colleagues are trying to ensure that the book went on sale.

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