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Blackmailers Demand Azeri Journalist Famous For Her Investigations on
Corruption Stop Writing
BAKU. March 7, 2012. A well-known Azerbaijani investigative journalist
Khadija Ismayilova received a blackmailing letter to her home address
on March 7th threatening to disgrace her in case she does not stop her
journalism activity.
Khadija Ismayilova, a freelancer journalist who regularly contributes
to the Radio Azadlig (Azerbaijani service of Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty), has been conducting several journalism investigations
revealing president Aliyev's family business, high level corruption
issues in the country. Below is the full text of Khadija Ismayilova's
statement posted on her Facebook page:
"On March 7, I received a letter to my home address with threats and
blackmail. It includes some photos of intimate character and a threat.
It says if I don't stop working I will be hugely embarrassed. This
threat is not a surprise for me. I have been doing investigative
journalism for a long time. My investigation included the secret
business of president Ilham Aliyev's family and documented the facts
of corruption on the highest level, disclosed the offshore businesses
of members of the ruling family.
Currently I am working on several investigative reports. I have sent
inquires to the Government offices about businesses of ruling family.
For a long time my journalistic activity has been the source of
concern for the government . I have been a subject of attacks and
slander in pro-government newspapers. I have been absurdly accused of
having Armenian relatives and working for foreign intelligence.
Till now many of my colleagues have been subjected to blackmailed with
discrediting information and I have been expecting new dirty
blackmailing moves from people who are stealing the public money. I
was envisioning this and was ready to face it. After receiving a
letter today I am convinced and determined that I can withstand any
blackmail campaign against me. I will continue my professional
activity and work. Because the journalist that respect its profession
can not act otherwise.
I would like to repeat that this is not the first time that these acts
of blackmail have been used against fellow journalists. The motives of
these acts are very well know to public. It is done to silence people
who are outspoken. There are a serious crimes behind these acts.
I may face more of these disgusting and dangerous steps against me.
The Government must investigate these events. Taken into account the
nature of my investigations and the source of criticism and attacks
against me, I hope the president will carry responsibility for what
may happen and provide protection for my security.
SELECTED REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS
Tracking president's family business
For more than five years government of Azerbaijan lied to citizens
about ownership of the mobile phone operator, naming German Siemens as
an owner of Azerfon company, enjoying favorable conditions in the
market, not available for competitors. The investigation reveals that
president Aliyev's daughters were behind Azerfon through shell
companies in Panama. Click here
[http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan_president_aliyev_daughters_tied_to_tele coms_firm/24248340.html]
President Aliyev's family and the illegal privatization of the public airport
The investigation conducted with Ulviyya Asadzade documented how
President IlhamAliyev's family was involved in the illegal
privatization of the public bank and other parts of state owned
Azerbaijan Airlines company, to benefit the Aliyev family. The
government never publicly announced the privatization. The report was
declared `the best investigation of Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty in
2010' among the 28 language services of the radio. Click here
[http://www.rferl.org/content/Aliyevs_Azerbaijani_Empire_Grows_As_Daughter_Joins _The_Game/2127137.html]
Barcelona of Iranian Turks
The feature highlights Iranian football team `Trakhtur', which became
a symbol of Azerbaijani turks' struggle in Iran for cultural and
linguistic rights. The story reports about arrests of ethnic rights
champions, human rights movement and activists, using the stadium as a
platform for voicing their problems. Click here
[http://www.azadliqradiosu.az/content/article/1951947.html]
Hidden infant mortality - the deaths caused by poverty in oil rich Azerbaijan
Radio documentary about infant mortality. The investigation reveals
infant mortality cases, never appeared in official statistics
explaining difference between government figures and independent
assessment. Click here
[http://www.azadliqradiosu.az/content/article/422047.html]
Shady electricity bid winner got presidential support
Investigation about corruption in tender procedures of contracting
Turkish company Barmek for the Baku city Electricity Supply
Management. The investigation revealed that the company obtained the
contract thanks to the previous agreement among presidents of
Azerbaijan and his friend, former president of Turkey. Click here
[http://www.echo-az.com/archive/2002_01/247/facts.shtml]
Untold stories of BTC pipeline
Report about political games around BTC pipeline, negotiations behind
the scenes, and never disclosed alternative plans of energy routes.
Click here [http://www.echo-az.com/archive/2002_09/426/facts.shtml#2]
Blackmailers Demand Azeri Journalist Famous For Her Investigations on
Corruption Stop Writing
BAKU. March 7, 2012. A well-known Azerbaijani investigative journalist
Khadija Ismayilova received a blackmailing letter to her home address
on March 7th threatening to disgrace her in case she does not stop her
journalism activity.
Khadija Ismayilova, a freelancer journalist who regularly contributes
to the Radio Azadlig (Azerbaijani service of Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty), has been conducting several journalism investigations
revealing president Aliyev's family business, high level corruption
issues in the country. Below is the full text of Khadija Ismayilova's
statement posted on her Facebook page:
"On March 7, I received a letter to my home address with threats and
blackmail. It includes some photos of intimate character and a threat.
It says if I don't stop working I will be hugely embarrassed. This
threat is not a surprise for me. I have been doing investigative
journalism for a long time. My investigation included the secret
business of president Ilham Aliyev's family and documented the facts
of corruption on the highest level, disclosed the offshore businesses
of members of the ruling family.
Currently I am working on several investigative reports. I have sent
inquires to the Government offices about businesses of ruling family.
For a long time my journalistic activity has been the source of
concern for the government . I have been a subject of attacks and
slander in pro-government newspapers. I have been absurdly accused of
having Armenian relatives and working for foreign intelligence.
Till now many of my colleagues have been subjected to blackmailed with
discrediting information and I have been expecting new dirty
blackmailing moves from people who are stealing the public money. I
was envisioning this and was ready to face it. After receiving a
letter today I am convinced and determined that I can withstand any
blackmail campaign against me. I will continue my professional
activity and work. Because the journalist that respect its profession
can not act otherwise.
I would like to repeat that this is not the first time that these acts
of blackmail have been used against fellow journalists. The motives of
these acts are very well know to public. It is done to silence people
who are outspoken. There are a serious crimes behind these acts.
I may face more of these disgusting and dangerous steps against me.
The Government must investigate these events. Taken into account the
nature of my investigations and the source of criticism and attacks
against me, I hope the president will carry responsibility for what
may happen and provide protection for my security.
SELECTED REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS
Tracking president's family business
For more than five years government of Azerbaijan lied to citizens
about ownership of the mobile phone operator, naming German Siemens as
an owner of Azerfon company, enjoying favorable conditions in the
market, not available for competitors. The investigation reveals that
president Aliyev's daughters were behind Azerfon through shell
companies in Panama. Click here
[http://www.rferl.org/content/azerbaijan_president_aliyev_daughters_tied_to_tele coms_firm/24248340.html]
President Aliyev's family and the illegal privatization of the public airport
The investigation conducted with Ulviyya Asadzade documented how
President IlhamAliyev's family was involved in the illegal
privatization of the public bank and other parts of state owned
Azerbaijan Airlines company, to benefit the Aliyev family. The
government never publicly announced the privatization. The report was
declared `the best investigation of Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty in
2010' among the 28 language services of the radio. Click here
[http://www.rferl.org/content/Aliyevs_Azerbaijani_Empire_Grows_As_Daughter_Joins _The_Game/2127137.html]
Barcelona of Iranian Turks
The feature highlights Iranian football team `Trakhtur', which became
a symbol of Azerbaijani turks' struggle in Iran for cultural and
linguistic rights. The story reports about arrests of ethnic rights
champions, human rights movement and activists, using the stadium as a
platform for voicing their problems. Click here
[http://www.azadliqradiosu.az/content/article/1951947.html]
Hidden infant mortality - the deaths caused by poverty in oil rich Azerbaijan
Radio documentary about infant mortality. The investigation reveals
infant mortality cases, never appeared in official statistics
explaining difference between government figures and independent
assessment. Click here
[http://www.azadliqradiosu.az/content/article/422047.html]
Shady electricity bid winner got presidential support
Investigation about corruption in tender procedures of contracting
Turkish company Barmek for the Baku city Electricity Supply
Management. The investigation revealed that the company obtained the
contract thanks to the previous agreement among presidents of
Azerbaijan and his friend, former president of Turkey. Click here
[http://www.echo-az.com/archive/2002_01/247/facts.shtml]
Untold stories of BTC pipeline
Report about political games around BTC pipeline, negotiations behind
the scenes, and never disclosed alternative plans of energy routes.
Click here [http://www.echo-az.com/archive/2002_09/426/facts.shtml#2]