Watchdog

Khadija Ismayilova, an investigative journalist and RFE/RL contributor who faces an array of charges she says are politically motivated, has been convicted of libel and fined 2,500 manats ($3,180).

Ismayilova's lawyer, Elton Quliyev, told RFE/RL that a Baku court judge issued the ruling on February 23 at the pretrial detention center where Ismayilova has been held since December 5.

Ismayilova was found guilty of publicly calling former opposition activist Elman Hasanov an agent of the national security ministry.

She denies having made such an allegation.

Lawyer Quliyev vowed an appeal.

Ismayilova, who has reported extensively on the financial dealings of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and members of his family, was initially detained on what authorities described as suspicion of inciting an attempted suicide.

She has since been hit with new charges including embezzlement, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and abuse of power, and faces up to 12 years in prison if convicted.

Ismayilova denies any wrongdoing.

BAKU -- A court in Azerbaijan has reportedly ordered that human rights activist Arif Yunus be held in pretrial detention for at least five more months.

Media reports in Azerbaijan quote lawyer Afqan Mammadov as saying that in a ruling on February 23, the Nasimi District Court in Baku extended the pretrial detention period for Yunus until August 5.

Yunus, 60, is the husband of rights activist Leyla Yunus, who is also in jail.

He was arrested on August 5, 2014, several days after his wife's arrest.

Both have been charged with treason and deny guilt, saying the cases are politically motivated.

Leyla Yunus's lawyers say she has been subjected to beatings and denied medical care for advanced liver disease.

Rights groups have urged the EU special representative for human rights to use his February 23 visit to press for the release of dozens of activists and journalists supporters say are political prisoners.