Will Political Prisoners Be Pardoned?

The meeting of the Commission for Pardons has caused speculation about a possible pardon of political prisoners.

In late August, "suddenly" there appeared three statements from political prisoners – the editor of Tolyshi Sado Hilal Mammadov, the former minister, Farhad Aliyev, and the activist from Sabirabad, Ilham Amiraslanov. All of them expressed support for the candidacy of Ilham Aliyev.

This gave reason to believe that the statements were the result of a deal: they were offered a pardon in exchange for loyalty to President Ilham Aliyev.

This view is also supported by the head of the Azerbaijan National Committee of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, human rights activist, Arzu Abdullayeva. She believes the applications of the human rights defenders and does not exclude the possibility of the liberation of the head of the movement REAL, Ilgar Mamedov, in the case of his registration as a candidate for the presidency.

In addition, under the decision of the Strasbourg Court, the Azerbaijani Supreme Court must review the court case of the former Health Minister, Ali Insanov.

The human rights activist, Novella Jafaroglu, also considers the signing of clemency orders possible. In her view, the order may appear either before the election or after it - on the occasion of Kurban Bayram (Holy Sacrifice Day, 15 October).

She also believes that the pardons can also reach political prisoners, the total number of which is a few dozen people. -05B06-