NEWS
Azerbaijan: Journalist threatened with blackmail
09 Mar 2012
BY ALICE PURKISS

An award-winning journalist in Azerbaijan has been threatened with blackmail. Khadija Ismayilova received photographs of an intimate nature with a threatening note saying unless she stops “behaving improperly”, she will be “defamed.” Ismayilova, who has caused public scandal by writing investigative articles exposing corruption among high-ranking Azerbaijani officials and their families, said on Facebook that the threat was not a surprise to her. The journalist has been targeted by pro-government forces in previous incidents.

4 responses to “Azerbaijan: Journalist threatened with blackmail”

  1. […] and civil society groups. Though prominent journalists Emin Milli (a former political prisoner) and Khadija Ismayilova (a victim of a  blackmail attempt) took part in the forum, many saw this as a PR move designed […]

  2. […] prison on charges of high treason and inciting hatred.In March, prominent investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova was the victim of a blackmail campaign. She received a collection of intimate photographs through […]

  3. […] in his village. Radio Free Liberty reporter Khadija Ismayilova made international headlines when she exposed a lurid attempt to silence her using footage of her having sex, captured by a secret camera […]

  4. […] for her investigative journalism into corruption, was one of the panellists. On 7 March, Ismayilova was threatened in the most conventional of ways — she received a collection of intimate photographs through […]