Case History: Gunay Ismayilova
On 26 January 2015, Ms Gunay Ismayilova was physically attacked by an unknown man when entering her apartment building.
In August 2014, her bank accounts were frozen and a travel ban was issued against her, as a part of general crackdown on local NGOs, even though no legal charges have been brought against her.
Ms Gunay Ismayilova is a media lawyer and deputy chair of the Institute for Reporter’s Freedom and Safety (IRFS), a non-government organisation (NGO) founded in 2006 with the aim of supporting journalists and freedom of the media in Azerbaijan.
On 26 January 2015, Ms Gunay Ismayilova was physically attacked by an unknown man when entering her apartment building.
At approximatively 8:30 am, Gunay Ismayilova walked into the lobby of her apartment building in Baku, a 28-30 year-old unidentified man followed her, grabbed her by the throat and tried to put his hand over her mouth, and attempted to hit her with an object. She started screaming and kicking on the door of the apartment on the ground floor. When the residents came out, the man fled. Following the attack, Gunay Ismayilova called the hotline of the Ministry of the Interior, which sent police officers to the building, and the human rights defender then filed a complaint with them. According to sources, the attack was targeted and no attempt was made to steal Gunay Ismayilova's bag, which she was carrying at the time.
On 27 January 2015, Ms Dunja Mijatović, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, called on the authorities of Azerbaijan to “conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into this attack and to ensure Ismayilova’s safety”.
