PEN’s Free Expression Digest brings you a daily curated round-up of the most important free expression-related stories from around the web. Please send your feedback and suggestions to [email protected]

Journalist Khadija Ismayilova freed in Azerbaijan *PEN Case List
The Azerbaijani supreme court has ordered the release of investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova on probation. Ismayilova, who had delved into the wealth of the country’s first family, was arrested in December 2014 and sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in jail in September last year. THE GUARDIAN

Five arrested over Indian journalist’s murder
Police on Wednesday reportedly arrested five people in connection with the murder of a journalist in the East Indian state of Bihar earlier this month. One of the accused, who police suspect is the main culprit, has apparently confessed to shooting the reporter dead. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES

Two reporters searching for journalist disappear in Colombia
Two more journalists were reported missing Tuesday in a lawless region where Colombian security forces were already carrying out an extensive search for a prominent Spanish journalist who disappeared over the weekend. The two journalists were from the right-leaning TV network RCN. FOX NEWS LATINO

Egypt deports French journalist amid crackdown on the media
Egypt deported a French journalist without explanation on Wednesday, the reporter and his newspaper said, the latest move in an ongoing crackdown by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi’s government on freedom of expression and the media. THE WASHINGTON POST

Swedish court upholds Assange arrest warrant
A Swedish lower court upheld on Wednesday the arrest warrant for Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, saying the stay at Ecuador’s London embassy did not equal detention. Assange, 44, is wanted by Swedish authorities for questioning over allegations, which he denies, that he committed rape in 2010. REUTERS

‘Penis Poet’ walks free after serving time
Poet Maung Saung Kha was sentenced to six months in prison yesterday for defaming former president U Thein Sein last year. Defence lawyer U Robert San Aung told The Myanmar Times that the ruling violated the right to freedom of expression. MYANMAR TIMES