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Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks condemns Azerbaijani authorities for the arrest of the journalist. In his statement made on December 9, he said that the fact of arrest of Khadija Ismailova, a well-known journalist and long-term partner of his office, confirms its concern that human rights defenders and other civil society activists, who cooperate with the Council of Europe, are repressed in Azerbaijan.

"I strongly condemn her arrest and consider it as another manifestation of a selective use of criminal law against those who criticize the government," said Nils Muižnieks, stressing that in just a few hours before her arrest Ismayilova contacted the office of the Council of Europe on a case of another journalist.

Secretary General of the Council of Europe Thorbjørn Jagland, condemns the arrest of the journalist and demanded her immediate release. "There was no need for this arrest. This is a bad message to Azerbaijani civil society and the international community. This is an indicator of how difficult the conditions are for the independent media and civil society in the country, and is contrary to international obligations undertaken by Azerbaijan," he said in his statement on 9 December.

On December 5, morning, well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova was detained after being questioned at the prosecutor's office. Baku Sabail District Court made a decision to detain her for two months. She was charged with incitement to suicide. If the fault of the journalist is proven, then she can be punished by a term of 3 to 7 years in prison. Khadija Ismayilova has become the target of attacks of the government for her journalistic activities. Ismayilova is an author of a number of journalistic investigations of corruption in the highest echelons of power in Azerbaijan. In recent years, she is conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of “Radio Liberty”.