PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT CHIEF RELEASES STATEMENT ON KHADIJA ISMAYILOVA

“The right to privacy for every citizen is guaranteed by the Constitution and no one can intrude into another citizen’s life,” the Chief of the Presidential Administration’s Public Policy Department Ali Hasanov told APA.

According to him, relevant agencies must take serious measures on all such cases regardless of the perpetrator. “The right to privacy is one of the fundamental human rights and those who violate this right must be held responsible. We condemn the case of journalist Khadija Ismayilova and consider it inadmissible to treat someone in such a manner, no matter the office and social status of the perpetrator. The relevant agencies are investigating the issue and additional information will be given about the results of the investigation”.

 

The General Prosecutor’s Office media service reported to AzerTAG that the General Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal case under Article 156 (violation of the privacy of personal life). Baku City Prosecutor’s Office has been charged with investigating the case.

 

On March 7th, investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova received an envelope in the mail containing intimate photos and a threatening note. On March 13th the official newspaper of the ruling party, Yeni Azerbaijan, issued a long attacking article entitled “Khadija Ismayilova as she looks and is.” A day later, an intimate video of Ismayilova taken with a hidden camera was posted on a newly created web site designed to mirror the website of the opposition Yeni Musavat newspaper.