Azerbaijani journalist – whose complaint caused Khadija Ismayilova’s arrest – repents and wants to withdraw application
Azerbaijani journalist Tural Mustafayev – under whose complaint well-known Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova had been arrested last December – wrote a letter to Zakir Garalov, the Prosecutor General of Azerbaijan, saying that he wanted to withdraw his appeal, Azerbaijani online resource Meydan TV reports adding that the photo of the letter was posted on Mustafayev’s Facebook profile.
Tural Mustafayev told RFE/RL that he had no claims against Khadija Ismayilova any more and now wanted to "make peace" with her. In response to the question why he had lodged an accusation, Mustafa told the journalist that he was under emotional stress in that period.
“I was having hard times. I wrote that in my letter to the Prosecutor’s Office. Now I feel completely healthy. I have written that letter without any external influence,” the journalist said.
Mustafayev also stressed that following his appeal on 26 November, 2014 a travel ban was imposed on him. He also said he wanted that restriction to be removed, the radio reports.
On 5 December, 2014, the 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 on charges of incitement to suicide. 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 was conducting a talk show in the Azerbaijani Service of Radio Liberty.
The arrest of Ismayilova has been followed by a wave of condemning statements by a number of international organizations and influential representatives from various states. Protest actions have been organized in her support in various countries; and prominent international editions released articles covering the topic. Nonetheless, on 13 February, 2015 Prosecutor General's Office of Grave Crimes Investigation Department of Azerbaijan charged the journalist under articles 179.3.2 (large-scale appropriation), 192.2.2 (illegal entrepreneurship with large income) and 308.2 (abuse of power with grave consequences) under Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. She faces up to 12 years in prison.
Related:
Opposition journalist Khadija Ismayilova charged with economic crimes in Azerbaijan: she faces up to 12 years
Detained Azerbaijani journalist writes about women’s problems in prison
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