Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 1
By Samir Ali – Trend:
The Baku Court of Appeal has considered the plaint regarding the decision to prevent journalist Khadija Ismayilova from leaving Azerbaijan.
A preliminary hearing was chaired by Vagif Mursagulov. At the hearing, Khadija Ismayilova presented to the court an application on rejecting the services of a lawyer appointed by the state. The court granted the motion.
The next court hearing is scheduled for August 15.
Earlier, Khadija Ismayilova appealed to the Baku City Binagadi District Court in connection with the lifting of the ban on her leaving Azerbaijan. The court didn’t satisfy her complaint. Then Ismayilova filed an appeal against this decision.
In December 2014, the Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Khadija Ismayilova to 7.5 years in prison.
She was charged for misappropriation and embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion and abuse of official duties.
Ismayilova's lawyers then filed a cassation appeal against the decision.
The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan made a decision on May 25, 2016 to release Ismayilova.
The Supreme Court sentenced her to conditional imprisonment term of three years and six months.