Saturday, May 26 2018 14:59

ArmInfo.Turan: The pardon did not solve the problem of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Azerbaijani human rights activists believe. "The pardon act, issued on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani People's Republic, did not  live up to the expectations." Out of more than 160 political  prisoners, only 12 people have been released, "head of the Monitoring  Center for Political Prisoners Elshan Hasanov told Turan.

Pardon did not apply to those serving life sentences in Gobustan  prison for more than 20 years of former officers.

Despite the fact that at the time of their conviction there was no  punishment in the form of life imprisonment, they were subjected to  this. Then the alternative death penalty was imprisonment for 15  years. Ilgar Mammadov, the chairman of the REAL party, was not  released, despite the fact that there are already two decisions of  the European Court of Human Rights that came into force. The  journalists, bloggers, members of the "group of Said Dadashbeyli" who  were convicted in 2007 remained imprisoned.

"We, former political prisoners believe that this pardon act does not  meet the requirements of democratic principles and the declared  reforms in the field of human rights," Hasanov said. In turn, the  head of the Public Alliance "Azerbaijan without Political Prisoners"  Ogtay Gulaliyev called yesterday's pardon "imitation." So, out of 12  pardoned political prisoners, the fourth until the end of the  sentence remained only 7 days. Another - activist of the Popular  Front Party is seriously ill. Another political prisoner, Elshad  Rzayev, remained several months before the end of the sentence.

According to Gyulaliyev, for many months the local and international  public was deceived by the promises of the Azerbaijani authorities  about the forthcoming "big pardon." According to the activist, pardon  practically did not affect political prisoners. "The authorities once  again showed that until there is strong pressure, they will not solve  the problem of political prisoners," Gulaliyev said.