Azerbaijani MoJ makes Shakhin Novruzlu's pardon petition public

Shakhin Novruzlu, an activist of the "Nida" movement, who was sentenced to six years in prison, has appealed to President Ilham Aliev for clemency, adding that he decided to give up any further political activities, the Penitentiary Service of the Azerbaijani Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has reported today.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on May 6 the following activists of the "Nida" movement, accused of organizing mass riots, Bakhtiyar Guliev, Shakhin Novruzlu, Mamed Azizov, Zaur Gurbanly, Rashad Gasanov, Uzeyir Mamedli, Rashadat Akhundov and Ilkin Rustamzade, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from six to eight years; and none of them pled guilty.

Nemat Kerimli, Novruzlu's advocate, believes that Shakhin was compelled to write the pardon petition under the pressure of power agents.

"Last week I met him at the Kyurdakhan SIZO (pre-trial prison). He said that he was pressed to write a petition for clemency, but he was not going to do it. Thus, if he did it now, I still do not reproach him. This is one of the forms used by the authorities to put pressure on activists in order to humiliate them, suppress their will and strengthen the mood of frustration and discouragement among young protesters," the lawyer said in his interview to the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.