Human Rights Watch (HRW) has given its Alison Des Forges Award for extraordinary activism to Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova, who was jailed last December.

An Azerbaijani court has released a human rights defender whose imprisonment was condemned by human rights groups to serve the rest of his sentence under house arrest.

Shortly after the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) issued a largely positive statement praising yesterday's parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan, three of the mission's 28 members took the dramatic step to publish a critical counter-statement.

An Azerbaijani journalist will be paid compensation after repressive government practices violated his human rights.

A court in Baku has rejected petitions by the defense lawyers of imprisoned Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova at a Thursday hearing.

The government of oil-rich Azerbaijan will launch its own national Internet service, according to reports.

Following international outcry over the arrests of two journalists in Azerbaijan last week, President Aliyev's advisor Ali Hasanov claimed that the journalists were arrested due to lack of accreditation.

TeliaSonera, the Swedish telecoms giant which has been linked by investigations to alleged multi-million dollar corruption in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, has announced that it is leaving the Eurasian market.

The European Parliament (EP) has adopted a resolution calling for the release of prisoners in Azerbaijan, among other anti-corruption and pro-democracy measures.

Khadija IsmayilovaInternational organizations and government officials have roundly condemned the jailing of Azerbaijani investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova, who was sentenced today to seven years and six months in prison.

Khadija Ismayilova, who is known for her investigative reporting on corruption in Azerbaijan, was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison today by the Azerbaijani authorities.

Friends and family of President Ilham Aliyev make free use of two luxury yachts worth US$ 59 million that are owned by the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR), the organization charged with managing the country’s oil wealth for its citizens.

In a statement prepared for the final day of her trial, journalist Khadija Ismayilova began a spirited take-down of the Azerbaijani authorities that have detained her since December, calling them a “repression machine” which would soon collapse.

Khadija IsmayilovaThe following text is from Khadija Ismayilova's statement given today to Azerbaijan's Court of Grave Crimes in Baku.

Lawyers for investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova asked for her acquittal at a hearing in Baku today, Azadliq Radio reports. 

The prosecutor in the case of investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova has asked the judge to sentence her to nine years in prison, Azadliq Radio reports. 

The testimony portion of investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova’s trial concluded today in Baku, Radio Azadliq reports. 

Supporters of imprisoned investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova protested against Ismayilova’s detention as her trial continued today.  

The state prosecutor in the case of investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova today accused her of deliberately delaying the trial, Trend news agency reports. 

Investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova claimed at a court hearing today that court records in her case are being “falsified”, Trend news agency reports.