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Senator Ben Cardin (MD), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) made a statement today in response to the continued harassment of RFE/RL journalist Ms. Khadija Ismayilova. The statement may be found on the website of the Commission.

“I am concerned for the safety and liberty of RFE/RL journalist Ms. Khadija Ismayilova. Ms. Ismayilova has been the target of consistent and sordid attacks by the government because of her investigative journalism. The current charges against her include espionage on behalf of the United States. These charges are clearly fabricated and punitive in nature,” the statement reads.

The Helsinki Commission calls on the Government of Azerbaijan to stop its harassment of all journalists and to respect freedom of the media, a commitment it has undertaken as a participating State of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

According to Benjamin Cardin Ms. Ismayilova’s harassment and detention are part of an unfortunate string of politically-motivated arrests of Azerbaijani’s who are exercising their rights to free speech.

“The list of those jailed on criminal charges in the period prior to the 2013 presidential election, including presidential hopeful Mr. Ilgar Mammadov, is troubling. Even election monitors such as Mr. Anar Mammadi, have not been spared. As the Government of Azerbaijan prepares to host the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly meeting in July of this year, we call on the government to respect the rule of law and other fundamental freedoms that are essential to comprehensive security,” the Chairman of the commission summed up.

Last week, a report appeared with the Azerbaijani news portal "Haqqin.az" which was presented by journalist Khadija Ismayilova to U.S. intelligence officers. The report contained a list of Azerbaijani political and public figures who have been convicted of cooperation with the authorities of Azerbaijan. The list included the names of such people as the Chief Editor of "Yeni Musavat" Rauf Arifoglu, head of the "Musavat" party Isa Gambar, journalist Einulla Fatullayev, an opposition politician Eldar Namazov, the family of former Azerbaijani President Abdulfaz Elcibey etc.