Human rights activists in Azerbaijan ambiguously perceive the presidential pardon

Ganimat Zakhidov, chief editor of the "Azadlyg" ("Freedom") newspaper, granted pardon yesterday by the decree of the Azeri president, was released today morning from the specialized medical establishment of the country's Penitentiary service.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports that Zakhidov told the staff of the "Azadlyg" newspaper and other colleagues who were meeting him near the colony that he was glad of his release. "I thank everyone who has taken part in it. Freedom is my right," noted Zakhidov. The journalist said that his state of health was normal.

He again stressed that he did not consider himself guilty of the charges laid to him.

Zakhidov highly praised the activity of the newspaper "Azadlyg" during his imprisonment. After a short rest he intends to resume his journalist's activity. According to Zakhidov, the imprisonment has not broken him and, as before, he is going to continue "struggle for freedom and democratic ideas ".

"Unfortunately, this decree on pardon, like previous acts, fails to resolve the problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan," this is how Leila Yunus, director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy comments on the presidential decree in her talk with the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

"Naturally, we sincerely welcome the release of Ganimat Zakhidov, chief editor of the "Azadlyg" newspaper. But he is probably the only political prisoner released," says Yunus.

She notes that, with the release of Zakhidov, the list of political prisoners of the Azeri Human Rights Organizations still contains 58 persons. "Many of them have been in prison for 15 or more years, for instance, father and son Vagif and Magsud Guseinovs, the former is already 72. Mushvig Madatov, former policeman, has been in prison for more than 11 years, Ruslan Bashirli, young activist, has served 5 out of 7 sever years of his term," continues Yunus. In her view, Nizami Shakhmuradov, former commander of police riot squad, could have been pardoned, too. He came himself to surrender to the law enforcement agencies.

Novella Dzhafaroglu, head of the Society of Women's Rights Protection, also notes that the "decree on pardon has not resolved the problem of political prisoners," but, at the same time, she highly estimates the document. In particular, she welcomes the release of Zakhidov, chief editor of the "Azadlyg" newspaper. She expresses hope that, later, another chief editor Einullah Fatullaev, young bloggers Emin Milli and Adnan Gadjizade and other political prisoners will similarly be released.

Dzhafaroglu has also noted the release one more political prisoner, Talat Novruzov, former member of the police riot squad.

Dzhafaroglu and Saida Godyamanly, head of the Bureau on Respecting Law and Human Rights, are pleased to note that, in adopting the decree on granting pardon, the address of the Monitoring Group of Azeri Human Rights Organizations (MGAHRO) has been taken into account. In particular, they asked for the release of journalists, bloggers and sick prisoners.

Godyamanly notes that now, according to the lists of the Monitoring Group, there are 20 political prisoners in prisons. The human rights activist has expressed hope that, "by way of a dialogue inside the country, they will soon manage to fully resolve the problem which damages the image of Azerbaijan ".

According to her, Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Commissioner, has also agreed with the members of the MGAHRO on the feasibility of resolving the problem of political prisoners using "national mechanisms".