Board Chairman’s statement on the release of Khadija Ismayilova
Today I am thrilled to learn that RFE/RL investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova has been released from the Baku prison in which she was serving an unconscionable and unacceptable sentence in retaliation for her corruption reporting. The Azerbaijan Supreme Court has made a step in the right direction by revising her sentence, but I urge the authorities to clear her name of all wrong-doing and remove her conditions of freedom.
I also call on the authorities to allow the RFE/RL news bureau in Baku to reopen and to stop their harassment of RFE/RL journalists in the country.
Today is a great day, but it is only one step in a long fight for press freedom in Azerbaijan. We remain committed to informing, engaging and connecting the people of Azerbaijan in support of freedom and democracy, and we look forward to celebrating more press freedom victories like today’s.
