“Defense Line” calls on the head of state to announce another pardon

Baku/04.05.21/Turan: The non-governmental organization "Defense Line" appealed to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev with request to sign a pardon decree on the Ramadan holiday.

“A large number of activists today have been brought to court because of the politically motivated criminal cases. Arrests of citizens on trumped-up charges due to their political activities damages the country's political process and the rule of law. Moreover, it leads to unhealthy rivalry between political forces, undermines the constitutional process of political struggle, promotes radicalism, intransigence, makes impossible the political dialogue necessary for the country,” the statement says.

The immediate release of these persons, the deliverance of their criminal prosecution is very important for solving the problems of the country, preventing pressure from abroad.

The release of persons known as political prisoners will stop negative processes in the field of human rights, improve indicators in this area, and contribute to progress in the field of the rule of law.

The "Defense Line" wants to believe that the opportunity provided by the Ramadan holiday will be used and an order will be signed on the release of those who are experiencing the fate of political prisoners," the statement of the "Defense Line" says.

The document welcomes the March order to pardon 38 political prisoners.

At the same time, it is noted that still dozens of political prisoners remain in prisons.

The "Line of Defense" was established in July 2020 by the lawyers Rufat Safarov, Rashid Hajili, Alaif Hasanov, public activists Zafar Ahmedov, Saigin Rustamli, Zaur Akper and journalist Tezekhan Miralamli.-03B06-