14:00, 11 June 2013

Azerbaijan: journalist Khadija Ismailova sentenced to public works

On Monday, the Binagadi District Court in Baku sentenced the well-known Azerbaijani journalist Khadija Ismailova to the alternative administrative penalty of 220 hours of public works, instead of the earlier appointed fine of 400 manats (about 510 US dollars).

The court has made this decision because Ismailova refused to pay the fine. She was fined under Article 298 "Violation of the order of organizing and holding meetings, rallies, demonstrations, marches and pickets" of the Code of Administrative Offences (CAO). The journalist was found guilty of involvement in unsanctioned protest action in Baku on January 26.

According to her story, now court marshals should fix the order of her public works. Khadija Ismailova told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent of her intention to appeal against the ruling.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Khadija Ismailova had become one of the five laureates of the "Free Press of Eastern Europe" Award named after Gerd Bucerius for 2012, which was established by the German Foundation "Zeit-Stiftung" and the Norwegian Foundation for "Free Speech".

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent