38 political prisoners pardoned (UPDATED)

Baku/18.03.21/Turan: Among 625 persons pardoned today, 38 people are considered political prisoners, Rasul Jafarov, a human rights activist, told Turan. Among them, 28 people were convicted in the case of the riots in the Nardaran settlement in 2015. Four members of the Popular Front Party were also released, among them journalist Elchin Ismail.

One person convicted in the 2018 Ganja riots case has been released. One Islamist convicted of protesting against the ban on wearing the hijab at school, is released.  Another political prisoner is a relative of a political emigrant living abroad. -02D-

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2021 March 18 (Thursday) 16:19:24

I. Aliyev issued a decree on pardon

Baku/18.03.21/Turan: On March 18, Ilham Aliyev issued a decree pardoning several hundred convicts. Some have their prison sentences reduced, and some will be released. The total number of those pardoned was 625. So, 475 people will be released.

The term of imprisonment for 98 convicts was reduced by half.

The term of imprisonment for three life-sentenced prisoners is 25 years.

Two are exempted from suspended sentences.

Three are released from the deferred punishment.

Nine people are exempted from the restriction of freedom.

 Twelve people were released from correctional labor.

Twenty-three people were exempted from fines.

Among those pardoned, there are also persons considered political prisoners. -02D-