Former OPON asks for pardon for three colleagues

A group of former fighters of special purpose police detachment (OPON) appealed to the President with request to pardon the three former colleagues who are serving life sentences:  Elchin Amiraslanov, Safa Poladov  and Arif Kazimov, told a news conference at the International Press Center is one of the former commanders  of OPON,  subsequently convicted and pardoned Nizami Shakhmuradov.

According to him, all three have serious health problems and finally they will not live long.

Shakhmuradov also touched upon social problems of former OPON troops. According to him, the ex-fighters cannot get a certificate of veterans confirming their participation in hostilities in Karabakh. For this reason, war disabled may not benefit as other veterans.

In addition, former OPON troops are not given job because of their belonging to OPON. Many of them took part in the fighting, being young and did not have time to get an education. They work part time drivers and handymen. In short, the social problems of people who fought in Karabakh are not resolved, and the need to discuss these issues, says Shakhmuradov.

* OPON was created in 1991 by the then Minister of the Interior Mammad Asadov. Subsequently squad was headed by Rovshan Javadov, who later became Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs. In early 1995, OPON was disbanded, but Javadov disobeyed orders.

In March, authorities attacked the base of OPON  on the outskirts of Baku, using military force. Javadov was killed, and all the surviving members of OPON were  arrested. They were given long prison sentences, and several people have been sentenced for life. -05C04-