Khadija Ismayilova's Sentence Suspended After Supreme Court Decision

Family members are left outside the court room unable to get in

Although the court room where Khadija Ismayilova's earlier hearing took place was replaced with a bigger one, yet again scores of people were left outside including Ismayilova's family members.

According to Azadliq Radiosu local staff only the official representatives of the diplomatic missions of the US, Germany and France were able to get in. The representatives of the Netherland and Great Britain were unable to enter the court room.

Khadija Ismayilova Wins Press Freedom Award

National Press Club presented its highest press freedom prize to jailed Azeri investigative reporter and RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova. Ismayilova has been held in pretrial detention in a Baku prison for 234 days on charges many observers link to her investigations of high-level corruption involving Azeri President Ilham Aliyev, and which could bring a prison sentence of 19 years.

RFE/RL Editor in Chief Nenad Pejic accepted the award on Ismayilova’s behalf, saying "Khadija is in prison because of her journalism...This award is an acknowledgement of her courage and her convictions, but it is also a call to all of us here tonight to condemn her imprisonment and demand her freedom."

In his speech Pejic thanks the Press Club for honoring Khadija and recognizing her work but that this was not enough. "But we must help her as well. We are journalists: we can raise our voices to hold Azeri authorities and international bodies accountable. Khadija is heroic -- but she is in jail for doing what journalists are supposed to do: question, investigate, and inform."

"She and Jason Rezaian are the victims of politically motivated judicial processes. This award shows that they are not forgotten; but it must be used to show governments around the world that we know they are jailing innocent people who are simply doing their jobs. The 70th session of the UN General Assembly presents an opportunity for all of us to speak out about these illegal acts.

At some point, Khadija will win. And she understands better than anyone the price that will have been paid for that victory. The awards she has received while in prison from the PEN American Center, the Swedish Press Club, and today from the National Press Club have helped her stay strong.

I am sorry that she is not here to receive this award in person. But I am confident that, one day, she will be standing here in front of you. She’s earned it."