Investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova said she could be re-arrested. In an interview with the Azerbaijani service of Voice of America, she said that for the second week she received warnings from various sources to be more careful.
“What am I doing, and why should I be more careful? My work is an investigation and there is nothing illegal about it. Everyone knows that I do not receive grants and do not deal with money issues. This is my rule from the very beginning. So, they are going to launch a new, contrived lawsuit. Probably, in the framework of this case, they want to arrest me again. We’ll see, what will they think ofnow? “, said Ismayilova.
She does not have information which body is preparing a criminal case.
“However, closing my bank accounts shows that there is coordination among various bodies. Now it is merged in the media, which means they are preparing a serioud ground formy arrest,” Ismayilova said.
According to her, she periodically notices surveillance, but tries not to walk alone.
“Last time when I was arrested, I was also a radio presenter. Now, with limited information, I only do investigations. I hope that if they arrest me again, then my friends and colleagues can continue my affair,” Ismayilova said.
According to her, on December 4, her accounts at the International Bank were arrested, where the government transferred compensation set by the European Court of Human Rights. The bill was arrested by the decision of the Baku Economic and Administrative Court at the request of the Ministry of Taxes. The talk is about allegedly unpaid tax debt by Ismayilova during her work on Radio Azadlig.
She explained that the compensation established by the decision of the ECHR cannot be the subject of a sanction, arrest, fine. Therefore, he will appeal the arrest of a bank account in court.
“International Bank of Azerbaijan”, as before, the Kapital Bank, violated a commercial secret, and provided the Mınistry of Taxes with information about my personal account,” Ismayilova said.
A similar arrest was imposed on the accounts of Radio Azadlig, on which there are more money than the amount required by the Ministry of Taxes.
Ismayilova considers absurd the apply the same requirement to her and the Radio Azadlig. She recalled that Radio Azadlig was not a financially responsible employee.