IOLR

The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan on Wednesday sentenced journalist Khadija Ismayilova to three years and six months of conditional imprisonment, APA reports.

Ismayilova was acquitted of charges under articles 179 and 308 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. Then her punishment was considered conditional.

According to the decision of the Supreme Court, she is deprived of the right to occupy leading positions in state and government bodies for two years.

Ismayilova was absent at the hearing.

She had sentenced to seven years and five months in prison upon the judgment of the Baku Court of Grave Crimes. Then, Ismayilova had filed an appeal against the court judgment, asking to terminate the criminal case and release her. But the court had rejected the appeal.

Baku’s Sabail District Court on 25.05.2016 held a hearing on the case of football player Javid Huseynov accused of the death of journalist Rasim Aliyev, APA reports.

During the hearing presided over by judge Elmar Rahimov, the footballer made his final plea, saying he was unaware of the murder and thus did not find himself guilty.

He asked the court to give a fair judgment about him.

The hearing will continue on May 31, 2016 and that day the final judgment will be pronounced.

Earlier, a state prosecutor demanded the court to sentence Huseynov to four years in prison.