Khadija Ismayilova’s case: Azerbaijan says foreign organizations interfere in issue

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 2 By Seba Aghayeva – Trend: Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry assesses the statements made by the US Department of State, the UK Minister of State for Europe, the EU and other international organizations regarding the court decision on Khadija Ismayilova’s case as a direct interference in the country’s sovereignty issue, the head of the ministry’s press service, Hikmet Hajiyev, told Trend Sept. 2. The Baku Court of Grave Crimes sentenced Khadija Ismayilova to 7.5 years in prison on Sept. 1. Ismayilova was charged under the articles 179.3.2 (large-scale misappropriation and embezzlement), 192.2.2 (illegal entrepreneurship), 213.1 (tax evasion) and 308.2 (abuse of official duties) under the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Hikmet Hajiyev said the Foreign Ministry strongly condemns and sees as inadmissible the interference in court’s work, the attempts to politicize the court decision, distorting the said decision’s essence, as well as the political statements made on the matter, which stands solely on a judicial plane. “Unfortunately, there also were attempts to interfere in investigation’s work and to put pressure on it during the investigation into Khadija Ismayilova’s case,” said Hajiyev. He added that such attempts are assessed as interference in the issue of the country’s sovereignty. “Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stated that the independence of the judicial authority and the rule of law are completely secured in the country,” he further added. “The court’s decision should be respected.” He noted that the laws enshrine all citizens’ right to appeal the court’s decision. Edited by SI Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency