Baku Prosecutor's Office disagrees with demand to compensate Ismayilova

Today, Azerbaijan has held a preliminary court session on the lawsuit lodged by the journalist Khadija Ismayilova against the Baku City Prosecutor's Office. The journalist demands monetary compensation for her unduly spent three months in jail.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2014 Khadija Ismayilova was detained on suspicion of inciting his colleague Tural Mustafaev to a suicide attempt. Later, she was also accused of a series of economic crimes. Ismayilova refused to plead guilty. On September 1, 2015, a Baku court sentenced her to 7.5 years in prison, acquitting her of incitement to suicide charge. On May 25, 2016, the Supreme Court (SC) of Azerbaijan replaced the real term of imprisonment with 3.5 years of conditional sentence with a trial period of five years. Khadija Ismayilova believes that the judgment confirms that from December 5, 2014, to March 6, 2015, that is, for 91 days, she had been illegally kept in jail.

The preliminary session took place at the Sabail District Court of Baku and was chaired by Judge Azer Tagiev.

At the session, Ismayilova was represented by her advocate Yalchin Imanov; Khadija was absent busy with her creative matters.

"Since December 5, 2014, to March 6, 2015, that is, for 91 days, Khadija Ismayilova was illegally kept in jail," Mr Imanov told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent after the session, adding that during these three months Ismayilova could not work and receive her salary. "Besides, she had to pay for lawyers' help and cover other costs associated with her detention and the need to buy foodstuffs."

Ismayilova demands a compensation of her monetary spending in the amount of 9030 manats (5600 US dollars), and 20,000 manats (12,500 US dollars) as compensation for her moral harm.

According to Imanov, at the session, the representative of the Baku Prosecutor's Office stated the Office's disagreement with the lawsuit and promised to lodge their protest at the next session.

The judge scheduled the hearing on the merits for August 24.

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