BAKU -- Baku prosecutors say they have opened an investigation after a sexually explicit video was posted on the Internet purportedly involving RFE/RL Azerbaijani Service correspondent Khadija Ismayilova.
Ismayilova said on March 16 the prosecutor's office informed her it had opened an investigation into alleged invasion of privacy.
But she said she wanted the probe to be widened to include attempted blackmail.
Also on March 16, several dozen journalists and civil-society activists gathered in Baku to condemn the smear campaign and show support for Ismailova.
The release of the video followed a threatening letter received by Ismayilova last week warning her she would be "defamed" if she did not "behave."
Ismayilova says the blackmail campaign is aimed at halting her investigations into corruption and the financial dealings of President Ilham Aliyev and his family.
Ismayilova said on March 16 the prosecutor's office informed her it had opened an investigation into alleged invasion of privacy.
But she said she wanted the probe to be widened to include attempted blackmail.
Also on March 16, several dozen journalists and civil-society activists gathered in Baku to condemn the smear campaign and show support for Ismailova.
The release of the video followed a threatening letter received by Ismayilova last week warning her she would be "defamed" if she did not "behave."
Ismayilova says the blackmail campaign is aimed at halting her investigations into corruption and the financial dealings of President Ilham Aliyev and his family.
