Deputy Chairman of Ruling Party Proposes to Announce Amnesty

Baku / 01.02.18 / Turan: The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Public Associations and Religious Organizations, Deputy Executive Secretary of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party Siyavush Novruzov proposes an amnesty. The proposal was made at the opening of the spring session of the Milli Majlis today.

Amnesty can be timed to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan People's Republic and the 95th anniversary of the birth of former President Heydar Aliyev, Novruzov said. He suggested that the parliament address with the corresponding request to President Ilham Aliyev.

According to Novruzov, the amnesty can be extended to persons who participated in military operations in defense of the territorial integrity of the country, women over 60, persons who are in the care of young children, and men over 70.

Novruzov is also for the amnesty of young people who committed crimes under the influence of "various religious movements and individual international organizations." At the same time, Novruzov believes that there are no political prisoners in Azerbaijan.

Novruzov"s initiative raises questions, since the adoption of the Amnesty Act falls within the competence of the Parliament, and it is unclear why he proposes to address the President.

For a quarter of a century after the restoration of independence, 11 amnesty acts and 63 pardon orders have been issued in Azerbaijan. -03D-