"We Do Not Want Pardon, We Want Verdict Not Guilty and Excuses"

A number of convicted persons recognized as political prisoners and "prisoners of conscience" by human right defenders have commented on New Year's Eve pardon.

"We do not want a pardon. We demand an apology and justification for the violation of our rights," in particular, said the journalist Khadija Ismayilova.

She considers the pardon as "a possibility that the government could listen to common sense and correct its mistakes."

"Our government made mistakes against us. If it wants to listen to common sense and fix the problem, this is a possibility. If it lacks this logic, we would welcome any move inviting the government to common sense, including initiatives on sanctions by the United States," further stated Ismayilova.

According to Ismayilova, American politicians have first begun systematic initiative to restore the human rights in Azerbaijan. "I hope this initiative will continue till the end," writes Ismayilova.

The chief editor of the newspaper Tolyshi Sado (Voice of Talysh) Hilal Mammadov in his address to the media said that political prisoners, including "prisoners of conscience," should not hope for any pardon.

 "It is clear that any application for a pardon, regardless of the content of the legal and logical point of view, is an agreement with the trumped-up charges and blow to the credo to fight for truth and justice. Long live the solidarity with the honor and dignity of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience!" said Mammadov.

He offered to recognize December 31 the International Day of Solidarity with Political Prisoners and urged the World Azerbaijanis to join this solidarity.

An employee of the newspaper Bizim Yol Parviz Hashimli regretted that after the exposure of a criminal network in MNS his rights were not restored.

In his address to the public he recalled that he had been subjected to physical and moral pressure by senior officials of the National Security Ministry, including the former head of the Antiterrorist Center Elchin Guliyev, who threatened journalists on behalf of the ex-minister Eldar Mahmudov.

"After the exposure of the criminal group in the Ministry of National Security, I hoped to be released. But as you can see that it did not happen. Apparently our government is still aware of and agrees to the imprisonment of its innocent citizens. Let it be so - important is that the public knows that we are innocent," stated Hashimli.

Recall that President Ilham Aliyev issued a decree on December 28 to pardon 210 people, among whom there are none of the political prisoners from the list drawn up by human rights activists. -03D06--