The travel ban prohibiting journalist Aynur Imranova from leaving the country has been lifted. Aynur Imranova has been barred from leaving the country since November 2014. The Serious Crimes Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office launched a criminal case to investigate the activities of local and international NGOs on April 22, 2014. The prosecution question journalists, lawyers, accountants and others cooperating with NGOs as part of the investigation on this criminal case. Aynur Imranova has been repeatedly invited by the investigating authorities to testify as a witness. Nevertheless, the Prosecutor General’s Office has banned the journalist from travelling abroad without having any grounds for such a restriction.
Aynur Imranova took the case to local courts demanding to lift the travel ban, but the courts dismissed her claims. In March 2016, the journalist once again appealed to Nasimi District Court demanding to revoke the travel ban.
Speaking about the court process, Aynur Imranova said that Nasimi District Court had sent an inquiry to the Serious Crimes Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office requesting information. “At the hearing held in Nasimi District Court under the chairmanship of the judge Elman Isayev on April 1, the court secretary read the letter submitted to the court and signed by Sanan Pashayev, an investigator with the Serious Crimes Investigation Department of the Prosecutor General’s Office. The letter said that international travel ban imposed on me was lifted. Based on the letter, the court discontinued the proceedings on the case,” concluded Aynur Imranova .