Tural Mustafayev, because of whose allegations journalist Khadija Ismayilova is arrested, is detained in Azerbaijan
Today in Azerbaijan was detained journalist Tural Mustafayev, according to whose statement on December 5 morning in Baku well-known journalist Khadija Ismayilova, an employee of the Azerbaijani service of "Radio Liberty”, was arrested, Azerbaijani newspaper "Azadlig" reports.
In its turn, the Azerbaijani news agency "Turan" reports that on Mustafayev’s Facebook page a status appeared that he renounces the claims against Ismayilova and wants to withdraw his complaint. At the same time, he wrote that he could face an arrest, and he is afraid that will not have time to take his statement away. He also wrote that he urgently needs a help of an independent lawyer.
As noted in the article, according to Mustafayev, district inspector had already visited him at home. Mustafayev further writes that in case there is no connection with him then they should call to his father. Later, he wrote that he is already detained.
"Turan’s" attempts to reach Mustafayev by the phone number left by him gave no reasons, no one answered, then the phone was disconnected. Mustafaev’s father was surprised by the message written by his son and said, "Tural is out with the guys. He went to drink tea." Later father’s phone number did not answer either.
"We failed to get a comment in the police as well. According to Mustafayev’s fellows, he had tried to leave the country today, but was arrested at the airport," the agency reports.
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”.