Journalists convicted in Azerbaijan demand rehabilitation

Khadija Ismayilova, Gilal Mamedov, and Parviz Gashimli, three journalists, who are serving their prison sentences in Azerbaijan, have reported that they expect from the authorities not only a pardon, but also rehabilitation. In their statements disseminated with the help of their advocates, they have repeatedly pleaded not guilty.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 28, President Ilham Aliev signed a decree on pardoning 210 prisoners. Meanwhile, the list of pardoned citizens does not include persons recognized by human rights defenders as political prisoners. The human rights defenders are disappointed by the decision. They believe that it can result in a deterioration of relations between Azerbaijan and the Western countries.

"We do not want a pardon. We demand to acquit us and to bring apologies for the violation of our rights," declares Khadija Ismayilova in her statement, which she handed over to advocate Yalchin Imanov on December 30, 2015.

Khadija Ismayilova is considering a possibility of pardoning as "an opportunity for the government to heed the common sense and correct the mistakes," the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent was told by Yalchin Imanov.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.