Khadija Ismayilova, Azerbaijan, is an investigative journalist, based in Baku. She works with Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project and hosts daily current affairs show on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Azerbaijani.
Her award-winning investigations uncovered high level corruption in Azerbaijan, including lucrative business deals of the Azerbaijani president’s family members, hidden interests of the president’s siblings in national contracts and mismanagement in the state financing sector.
Her career in journalism includes reporting for Azerbaijani, Russian, English language newspapers of the region, managing positions in several Azerbaijani newspapers and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
In May 2012 the Zeit Stiftung and Fritt Ord Foundation awarded Khadija Ismayilova with the Gerd Bucerius Free Press of Eastern Europe Award.
Washington-based International Women Media Foundation announced in April, 2012, that Khadija Ismayilova will be presented with the Courage of Journalism Award in October.
Investigative reporter and ICIJ member Khadija Ismayilova has been released from an Azerbaijani prison after spending a year and a half behind bars.
