Prominent Azerbaijani Journalist's Trial Postponed

BAKU -- The trial of an investigative journalist with RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service has been postponed till October 17.

Khadija Ismayilova's trial on a libel charge began last week and had been scheduled to continue on October 13.

Ismayilova is known for her extensive reporting on the business interests of President Ilham Aliyev's family.

The case against her centers on a purported document that she posted on social media alleging that the Azerbaijani secret services used an explicit, illegally filmed sex tape to blackmail an opposition activist into informing on other opposition figures.

Ismayilova sees the case as part of a broader crackdown against civil society by Azerbaijani government.

On October 11, Azerbaijani authorities did not allow Ismayilova to travel to Prague, where she had been due to attend an international conference.