14 political prisoners pardoned in Azerbaijan

The Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev has signed a decree to pardon 148 persons. The text of the document is posted on the website of the President of Azerbaijan.

Among those pardoned, there are 14 well-known political prisoners, namely: Rasul Jafarov, the head of Human Rights Club; Anar Mamedli, the head of the Centre for Election Monitoring and Training Democracy; Talekh Khasmamedov, the chairman of the NGO "Law and Rights"; Rashadat Akhundov, Rashad Gasanov and Mamed Azizov, young activists of the "Nida" Movement; Tofig Yagublu and Yadigyar Sadygov, deputy chairmen of the "Musavat" Party; and Omar Mamedov, a blogger.

The list of pardoned political prisoners also includes Siraj Kerimli, a brother of Faraj Kerimli, the convicted activist of the "Musavat" Party; Gilal Mamedov, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Tolyshi Sado" (Voice of Talysh); Parviz Gashimli, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Bizim Yol"; Nemat Panakhli, the chairman of the National Statehood Party; and Akif Muradverdiev, the former office manager of the President of Azerbaijan.

The pardoning is dated to for the spring holiday Novruz Bayram, celebrated this year on March 20.

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