Investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova freed in Azerbaijan

Khadija Ismayilova, a prominent Azerbaijani investigative journalist was released on probation on 25 May 2016, after her detention was widely criticised by activists and human rights organisations.

Ms Ismayilova, who had delved into the wealth of the country’s ruling family, had been arrested in December 2014 and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail in September 2015.

She was freed by Azerbaijan’s supreme court after judges ruled her sentence would be changed to a three-and-a-half-year suspended term.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Human rights: Russia, Azerbaijan and Angola http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-human-rights-russia-azerbaijan-and-angola/

EurActiv, 26.05.16: Release of jailed journalist signals improvement of Azerbaijan-EU relations http://www.euractiv.com/section/europe-s-east/news/release-of-jailed-journalists-signals-improvement-of-azerbaijan-eu-relations/

The New York Times, 25.05.16: Azerbaijan Frees Khadija Ismayilova, Journalist Who Exposed Official Corruption http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/26/world/asia/azerbaijan-khadija-ismayilova.html

The Moscow Times, 25.05.16: Investigative Journalist Khadija Ismayilova Freed by Azeri Court http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/investigative-journalist-khadija-ismayilova-freed-by-azeri-court/570251.html

BBC News, 25.05.16: Azerbaijan court frees journalist backed by Amal Clooney http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36379828

Amnesty International UK: Press Release, 25.05.16: Journalist Khadija freed in Azerbaijan, after being blackmailed and unjustly imprisoned by her government https://www.amnesty.org.uk/journalist-khadija-ismayilova-free-azerbaijan-imprisoned-blackmailed-government-corruption

Deutsche Welle, 25.05.16: Journalist freed in Azerbaijan after Supreme Court overturns verdict http://dw.com/p/1IuIi

Euronews, 25.05.16: Prominent journalist freed in Azerbaijan http://www.euronews.com/2016/05/25/prominent-journalist-freed-in-azerbaijan/

Human Rights Watch: Dispatches, 25.05.16: Leading Azerbaijani Journalist Freed From Prison https://www.hrw.org/news/2016/05/25/dispatches-leading-azerbaijani-journalist-freed-prison

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