European court rules Azerbaijan prosecuted Khadija Ismayilova in retaliation for journalism

Berlin, January 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) January 27 ruling that Azerbaijan violated the rights of journalist Khadija Ismayilova by prosecuting and imprisoning her in retaliation for her reporting, but calls on Azerbaijan to immediately enforce the judgment.     

Ismayilova, an award-winning investigative journalist, was detained in December 2014 and subsequently sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison on multiple charges, including embezzlement, tax evasion, and illegal entrepreneurship. The journalist, who denied the charges, was released on probation in May 2016.   

The Strasbourg-based ECtHR ruled that Azerbaijan imprisoned Ismayilova “to silence and punish her for her journalistic activities,” reinforcing concerns long raised by CPJ and other organizations that Azerbaijani authorities have misused the criminal justice system to intimidate and punish independent journalists. The court ordered Azerbaijan to pay 12,000 euros (US$14,300) in compensation for moral damage and 4,000 euros (US$4,800) in legal costs.

“This is a long-awaited decision in the case of Azerbaijani investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova and recognition that she was prosecuted in retaliation for her work. It is a ray of light amid the Azerbaijani authorities’ continued repression of independent media,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “But Azerbaijan has a woeful record of complying with ECtHR judgments. In light of its continued disregard, the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers should now robustly challenge Azerbaijan to ensure full compliance with all rulings relating to freedom of expression.” 

The Council of Europe is Europe’s largest human rights body, of which Azerbaijan is a signatory. The Committee of Ministers is the organization’s decision-making body responsible for monitoring the execution of judgments.

Ismayilova is currently banned from travel amid a new criminal case against her current outlet, Toplum TV.

Azerbaijan remains one of the world’s worst jailers of journalists, with at least 24 journalists behind bars on December 1, 2025, according to CPJ’s latest prison census.