POLITICS
3 THOUSAND 91 PRISONERS PARDONED DURING THE LAST 8 YEARS
On December 29, 2003, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed a decree “On clemency for people taken into custody”. This is the first Decree on Clemency signed by President Ilham Aliyev. This decree stipulated the humanism and justice, respect for human rights and freedoms, appeal of some convicted persons, members of their families, NGOs, human rights commissioner of Azerbaijan to President for pardon as well as state of health, marital status, their behavior. This Decree released 160 people from the remained term, and the remnant for 4 people was halved. The life imprisonment for one person was commuted to 20 years term of service.
Nine prisoners fell under the presidential decree issued in compliance with the appeal of ombudsman of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova.
The decree was executed and prisoners were released on December 30, 2003. The releasing ceremony at jail No7 was attended by the ombudsman.
Opening the ceremony chief of jail Salman Najafov said that the decree deals with 11 prisoners.
The freed prisoners and their families expressed gratitude to President of Azerbaijan Republic Ilham Aliyev and wished good health to him and his family.