Journalist Elchin Ismayilli’s Appeal Rejected

On 13 March, Baku Court of Appeal considered two appeals filed by arrested journalist Elchin Ismayilli, lawyer Elchin Sadigov reported. The appeals against the court decisions on the extension of Ismayilli’s pre-trial detention term and the refusal to release him under house arrest were not granted.

Lawyer Elchin Sadigov considers it illegal to keep the journalist in detention. “Four reasons justifying the extension of a suspected offender’s period of preliminary detention are clearly stated in the legislation. For the term of arrest to be extended, there must be a real risk that the person may hide or hinder the process of revealing the truth. None of these grounds required to extend the period of arrest exists in Elchin Ismayilli’s case,” the lawyer said.

Sadigov added that both decisions were unlawful and would be appealed to the European Court.

Background: Elchin Ismayilli, a journalist based in north-western Azerbaijani city Ismayilli, left home and did not come back on 17 February. On 18 February, a 24-hour-arrest decision was issued for the journalist by Nasimi District Court, as he was charged under Articles 182.2.2 (extortion, committed repeatedly) and 308.2 (abuse of office) of the Criminal Code.