According to the Human Rights Centre of Azerbaijan (HRCA), one of the oldest lifelong prisoners, Arif Zeynaddin Oglu Mahmudov, born in 1936, died of a heart attack in a medical institution of the Ministry of Justice (Central Prison Hospital) on February 17. He was sentenced to death in 1996, and after the abolition of the death penalty in February 1998, this penalty was replaced by life imprisonment.
The Azerbaijani legislation provides for the possibility of parole after serving 25 years of life imprisonment. But taking into account the average life expectancy in Azerbaijan, which is not more than 72 years, the authorized period means a death sentence for those who have been convicted in their old age. Even after the abolition of the death penalty, 47 of the 128 people formerly sentenced to death died, and many of them were younger than Mahmudov. To date, only two people formerly sentenced to death managed to spend 25 years in prison.
HRCA calls to reconsider the provisions of Article 57.3 of the Criminal Code and to make flexible the authorized period as envisaged by Resolution № R (76) 2 of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers with respect to the treatment of prisoners on long sentences. This period, giving the detainee a realistic chance of release in the case of correction could be part of the sentence and could be assigned by the judge when sentencing somebody to life imprisonment. -0--
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The closure of Azerbaijan's land borders was discussed during the parliamentary session on November 25. While the government’s decision cites the coronavirus pandemic as the main reason—despite the World Health Organization declaring its end last year—Zahid Oruj, Chair of the Human Rights Committee in the Milli Majlis, pointed to other factors. He stated, "Opening the borders could result in an influx of hundreds of thousands of non-Azerbaijani refugees due to the Russia-Ukraine war. Additionally, in Iran, many are prepared to cross into Azerbaijan to safeguard their lives and assets amid military strikes. Such waves of refugees could lead to humanitarian, social, and cultural clashes that may threaten political stability."
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On Tuesday, the General Prosecutor's Office announced the initiation of new criminal cases against agricultural product exporters who allegedly concealed their earnings abroad. Specifically, the Sumgayit City Prosecutor's Office has opened a criminal case under Articles 208.2.1 and 208.2.2 (failure to return foreign currency to the country in large amounts by prior agreement of a group of individuals) and Article 308.2 (abuse of office causing serious consequences) against officials of the company "SOİL BOONS" LLC – Jahangir Aliyev, Elyar Gadzhiev, Mehman Mirzamedev, Saleh Gabilov, and Aly Aliyev.
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Rains will continue in Baku and Absheron on 27 November, forecasters said. In places, precipitation will be intense with thunderstorms. Moderate north-west wind.
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On Tuesday, rainy weather with thunderstorms and moderate northwest wind is expected in the Baku, according to meteorologists. The rainy weather will continue untill Wednesday evening. The air temperature at night will be +7 to +10°C, and during the day, +11 to +13°C. The humidity will be 80-90% at night and 70-80% during the day. Rain with thunderstorms will also affect other parts of the country. Snow is expected in mountainous areas. There will be fog in places, with westerly winds.
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