Baku, Azerbaijan, May 25
Trend:
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly's Special Representative on the South Caucasus Kristian Vigenin and the Chair of the OSCE PA's Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions Isabel Santos have welcomed the release by the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan of journalist Khadija Ismayilova.
"It is great news that Khadija Ismayilova has been freed from prison and will return safely to her family. I welcome this positive development, which ultimately serves the best interests of Azerbaijan, its people and the OSCE," said Vigenin, who will be in Baku later this week and will hold meetings on a range of issues.
"I take note of this positive step taken by Azerbaijan toward upholding its OSCE human dimension commitments and I look forward to constructively engage with Azerbaijan's authorities on human rights, the rule of law, and other democracy-related issues," said Santos.
The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan made a decision on May 25 to release the journalist Khadija Ismayilova.
A cassation appeal by Ismayilova was considered by the Supreme Court, under the chairmanship of Judge Ali Seyfaliyev May 25, and the Court sentenced her to conditional imprisonment term of three years and six months.
Earlier, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Khadija Ismayilova to 7.5 years in prison.
Ismayilova's lawyers then filed a cassation appeal against the decision.
She was charged for misappropriation and embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion and abuse of official duties.