April 27, the Swedish National Press Club presented Khadija Ismayilova with a prestigious Freedom of Speech award in memory of Anna Politovskaya.
The Press Club gave this award to Ismayilova "for tenacious investigative reporting and extraordinary bravery".
Bjorn Hager, president of the Swedish National Press Club said, "Khadija Ismayilova has shown great courage in exposing corruption at the highest level in Azerbaijan. She has taken considerable risks for the truth to come forward, including reporting on Telia Sonera's business ties with Azerbaijan's governing elite. The imrpisonment of Ismayilova is a violation of press freedom and a shameful attempt to discourage other journalists from revealing the regime's abuse of power".
The Swedish National Press Club’s Freedom of Speech award is presented to “a journalist whose work represents the defense of freedom of speech and freedom of the press". The award was first presented in 2007, the year after the murder of Anna Politkovskaya.
The award ceremony takes place in Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Monday April 27th.
Khadija Ismayilova, was arrested December 5 for incitement to suicide. On February 13 she received additional charges - appropriation, tax evasion, abuse of authority, and illegal business. Her pretrial detention was extended on March 6 by the Nasimi Court until May 24. Earlier, Ismayilova received Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.
