The current amnesty does not solve the problem of political prisoners - human rights activists

Baku/03.11.21/Turan: The adoption of the Amnesty Act on the occasion of Victory Day is a significant event, since it will allow thousands of people to return to their families,  said the head of the Society for the Protection of Women's Rights Novella Jafaroglu. “Amnesty is an act of humanism and from this point of view, this step can only be welcomed,” she continued.

At the same time, the human rights activist expected that the Act would also affect political prisoners. “If this does not happen, then the terms of punishment may be reduced. There are some people who participated in the first Karabakh war, and they could have been released,” Jafaroglu said. At the same time, she said that a pardon order could be signed at the end of December.

“There are 38 political prisoners on our list. We hope that the pardon order can put an end to the problem of political prisoners,” Jafaroglu continued. Rasul Jafarov, head of the Baku Human Rights Club (BCHR), also positively assessed the upcoming Amnesty. In his opinion, any act of amnesty or pardon deserves approval.

If also the solution of the issue of political prisoners would be ensured in this context, the significance of the Amnesty would be more significant, Jafarov said.

Under the current version, of the political prisoners, only a member of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan Alizamin Salayev and a person involved in the "Ganja case" Ulvi Hasanov fall under the amnesty.

"The amnesty will not affect many other persons accused in the Ganja events of 2018, whose guilt has not been confirmed by reliable evidence," Jafaroglu said.

The coordinator of the Committee against Repression and Torture, Namizad Safarov, believes that on the occasion of the Victory Day, a “golden amnesty” should be announced, which would affect a wide range of convicts.

“Acts of amnesty are adopted in Azerbaijan with political discrimination. Our amnesty does not apply to persons arrested for political beliefs and views. Although these persons are being charged under various articles of the Criminal Code, it is obvious that the criminal cases against them are far-fetched and fabricated,” Safarov said.

The draft Amnesty Act was presented to the parliament by the President of the country Ilham Aliyev. The Milli Majlis is expected to adopt the document on November 5.  The amnesty will affect 6 thousand people, including 3 thousand will be released.

According to human rights activists, more than 120 political prisoners are currently held in Azerbaijan's prisons. –05В06-