Khadija Ismayilova had been jailed since December 2014 on a range of politically motivated charges – initially inciting someone to attempt suicide, and later the charges of which she was eventually convicted: illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and abuse of office. The real reason she was targeted, however, was her investigative reporting exposing corruption among Azerbaijan’s ruling elite.

Khadija was represented by Amal Clooney of Doughty Street Chambers and Nani Jansen from the Media Legal Defence Initiative.

Following Khadija’s release her counsel, Amal Clooney, said:

“Today we can all celebrate the fact that an innocent young woman has been freed. Khadija is a talented journalist who was instrumental in exposing corruption in her country. Her release is a victory for all journalists who dare to speak truth to power”.

She added that: “Khadija deserves full acknowledgment of her innocence and should be allowed to resume her work as a journalist without further harassment by the government”. 

Mrs Clooney and Ms Jansen would also like to thank [amongst many others] Sport for Rights and 89up for their support for Khadija’s release.