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Winners of the fifth Global Shining Light Award, including Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project regional coordinator Khadija Ismayilova, have donated their $US 1,000 prize money to imprisoned Azerbaijani editor Avaz Zeynalli, reports the website of Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP).

It is noted that Zeynalli, the founder and editor-in-chief of the Azerbaijani Khural newspaper was arrested in October 2011. Zeynalli, a staunch critic of Azerbaijani authorities, was accused of bribery, extortion, and tax evasion and was sentenced to nine years in prison after a closed trial.

According to the Global Investigative Journalism Network, Zeynalli’s paper was “one of a handful of independent media voices” in Azerbaijan, which, out of 179 ranked countries, came in 156th place in Reporters Without Borders’ 2013 Press Freedom Index.

According to Ismayilova, she and her fellow award winners wanted to show they stand behind Zeynalli, “one of the bravest journalists in Azerbaijan,” who authorities tried to silence “not only by arresting him but by discrediting him.”
“That was the most outrageous part of the attack,” the reporter said.

Ismayilova, working for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), won a 2013 Global Shining Light Award with fellow RFE/RL correspondent Nushabe Fatullayeva and journalists Pavla Holcova and Jaromir Hason. The journalists were recognized for their investigation of “dubious business transactions.”

Recall that Zeynalli was arrested in October 2011 on the complaint of ex-MP Gular Akhmedova, who at present is under arrest for frauds. On March 12 Baku Court on Grave Crimes recognized Zeynally guilty under the articles - 311.3.3 (large scale bribery), 311.4 (extortion by threats), 306 (non-enforcement of the court) and 213.1 (tax evasion in a considerable volume) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan and sentenced him to nine years' imprisonment. Subsequently Baku Appeals Court upheld the verdict.
"Reporters without Borders" Organization as well as other human rights organizations have repeatedly demanded that the authorities of Azerbaijan released A. Zeynalli.