March 12, Baku Court of Appeal, dismissed the appeal to revise the decision on extension of journalist, Khadija Ismayilova's pretrial detention sentence.
On March 6, the Nasimi Court extended Ismayilova's pretrial sentence by two months until May 24. The defense appealed the decision shortly after however
Also during the hearing, Ismayilova's lawyer, Yalchin Imanov was dismissed from the case. Imanov was questioned as a witness following the raid at the Radio Free Europe Baku bureau. This is why he was dismissed explained Orkhan Babayev, an investigator with the Office for Serious Crimes
Khadija Ismayilova desribes this decision as an attempt to weaken her defense.
Ismayilova, was arrested December 5, 2014 on charges of "incitement to suicide". Her pretrial detention was extended on January 27.
On February 13, Ismayilova received additional charges on three accounts: 179.3.2 (embezzlement in large size), 192.2.2 (illegal business with the extraction of a large income) and 308.2 (abuse of power, resulting in grave consequences) of the Criminal Code.
On February 23, the journalist was found guilty on previous charges of slander and fined 2500Manat.
February 25, the Office of the General Prosecutor for Serious Crimes announced its decision to combine all of the charges with Serious Crimes Unit taking over the case.
March 6, Ismayilova's detention was extended by another two months.