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On December 5 morning the news feed of the world media was covered with the following news: the well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismayilova who was cooperating with the "Radio Liberty" and other international media, was arrested for a term of 2 months on charges of "incitement to suicide" of his colleague Tural Mustafayev.

Ismayilova’s lawyer, and then the fellows of the journalist called the accusations "absurd." As it turned out, Mustafayev, who allegedly tried to commit suicide in public, diluting the poison with yogurt, has long been known in journalistic circles, as an alcoholic, and had serious mental problems.

In Azerbaijani realities the case of Khadija Ismayilova is not unique, but it is worth of special attention. Today she is in fact the only author-journalist in Azerbaijan who makes great journalistic investigations and examinations about the corruption in the highest echelons of power. Because of her high-profile articles amendments have been made twice in the Azerbaijani legislation prohibiting the provision of personal information about officials and their families.

Employees of the Ministry of National Security of Azerbaijan threatened and blackmailed her with sex scandal, intimidated, and even accused her of being of "Armenian origin." All the power of the wrath of the Aliyev regime collapsed on the head of an independent journalist who dared to lift the veil of secrecy of sources of financial prosperity of the ruling elite. As a result of persecutions, in fact by the efforts of the ruling regime of Baku, Khadija became the symbol of the struggle for freedom of expression in this authoritarian country. Representatives of international organizations began inviting her to international conferences, awarded prestigious rewards, international organizations considered her assessments.

It is not surprising that her arrest was condemned by the State Department, the OSCE and the Council of Europe and numerous human rights organizations. It was the wish of Ismayilova who wrote an open letter calling on the international community before her arrest: if you want to help either protest loudly, not in the corridors, or do nothing at all. And her appeal was heard. Rally in support of Azerbaijani journalist were held in the US, Moldova, Georgia.

Like any citizen of Azerbaijan, Ismayilova long before her arrest understood the hopelessness of her situation. She was not allowed to leave the country, she was shadowed, provocations were prepared against her. Earlier Ismayilova was summoned for questioning, accusing her for revealing a state secret in a conversation with two American officials, whom she met in Baku.

On the eve of the arrest of Khadija Ismayilova, the head of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration Ramiz Mehdiyev published a 60-page article in which he called Ismayilova a "sample of a journalist working against the government." With such a label on the reputation, nothing would save her, neither the statement of the US State Department nor formal appeals by international organizations to which the official Baku has long topped listening to.

At the same time, Baku spends billions of dollars abroad to create an image of a secular, civilized and adequate regime, however they foolishly fail the task every time, attracting the negative attention of the world press on Azerbaijan, firmly inscribing the perception of ordinary people, as "oil sultanate", with all the accompanying attributes: Heydar Aliyev - cult of personality of the "father of the nation", repressions against social injustice of disgruntled citizens and clamp-down on dissent in Orwellian style. It is enough to recall the official ban on presentation of Hollywood comedy "The Dictator" in Azerbaijan, a satirical story, where apparently the Azerbaijani ruling regime spotted parallels with the realities of Azerbaijan.

It is impossible to hide the odiousness of the regimes from prying eyes, either behind the glare of the fashionable boutiques in Baku, or behind the bribes and "donations", or caviar per kilogram, which has become the visit card of the Aliyev regime and a brand at the same time, which embodies the untidiness of foreign policy of the rich authoritarian states.

"The charges against me are fraud; it is a dirty and black PR. Despite all of this, I am strong. I know it’s not easy for you too. But do not be discouraged. Continue your work. It is important that each continued his work. We wait for new investigations from our colleagues , from the human rights activists - new initiatives. The work must go on," said Ismayilova during the phone interview from prison given to the "Radio Liberty".