“Hello everyone. I am strong. You must be strong too.
My advice to journalists is to keep on eye on the corruption amid the financial crisis. Watch out for the new economic areas the government is likely to monopolize disguising it as a way out of the crisis.
The escalation on the frontline is painful. I wish this was not about distracting Armenian and Azerbaijani people from the internal political and economic crises but real steps in returning our lands.
Hopefully, the clashes on the front line and the new realities in the region will slow down corruption scams even if for a bit.
You see, I am still hoping, everything is going to be ok.”
Khadija Ismayil was arrested December 5 on charges of "incitement to attempt to suicide".
On February 13, Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General Office issued a series of additional charges against an award- winning investigative reporter Ismayilova. She is facing up to 19 years if convicted for embezzlement, tax evasion, illegal business and abuse of power.
After 9 months in administrative detention, Ismayil was sentenced by the Baku Court for Grave Crimes to 7 years and 6 months in jail. She was acquitted for the "incitement to attempt suicide" charge and found guilty on charges of tax evasion, embezzlement and misappropriation, abuse of power, and illegal enterpreneurship.
Azerbaijani government claimed there were no political motives in Ismayilova's case.
Azadliq Radio believes Ismayilova's arrest is the result of her work, investigating illegal businesses of Azerbaijani government officials.