OFFICIAL NEWS
PRESS-SERVICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF AZERBAIJAN REPORTS
This was the seventh decision on amnesty made this year, which is the manifestation of the humane policy being carried out in the framework of building democratic and legal state under the leadership of the President Heydar Aliyev.
Humanization of the criminal legislation, passing new Criminal and procedural criminal Codes meeting up-to-date standard, decriminalization of a great deal of actions, commutation of the sanctions, Azerbaijan Republic’s joining the European Convention “On Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms”, recognition by the country of the Jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights, positive effect of the reorganization of correctional facilities in the framework of the modern penitentiary system on correction of the convicted persons, and announcement of the next amnesty are the component parts of this policy.
To bring the essence and significance of the decision on the amnesty to the public, a huge explanatory work has been carried out in mass media; appropriate actions have been taken for the purpose of timely and correct implementation of the amnesty by the Ministry of Justice, Supreme Court, Office of General Prosecutor and other bodies; meetings with convicted persons have been held in correctional facilities, jails and special correctional facilities, and appropriate measures taken for social rehabilitation of the persons discharged from the institutions of confinement.
At present, the three-months term envisioned by the Amnesty Act for implementation of the given decision by the penalty executing bodies ended.
As a result, 3206 persons who had served sentence in correctional facilities of the Main Department for Execution of Court’s Decisions of the Ministry of Justice. Term of punishment for 1929 convicts have been shortened or commuted, 5707 who were convicted for various punishments not connected with deprivation of liberty have been discharged.
The amnesty has been applied to 2880 persons with respect to cases under preliminary consideration. Thus, 2430 of the convicts discharged from the facilities of the Main Department for Execution of Court’s Decisions of the Ministry of Justice have been discharged from the institutions of confinement, and 775 from special correctional facilities. Of them, 1462 persons, whose unexpired term of sentence had not exceeded six month, have been discharged irrespective of the kind of crime committed and restrictions envisaged by the Amnesty Act.
Besides, the unexpired term of sentence has been shorten three-fold for 409 persons who had been convicted for a term of over than three years for deliberate crimes. Deprivation of liberty of 1520 has been commuted for restriction of liberty or keeping in disciplinary military unit.
As a result of the Amnesty, 89 men, who had served their sentence in the disciplinary military units have been released.
Court inspectors have applied for the first tome, the remission of penalty /4383 million manat/ resulting in indemnity of 3241 people.
The Amnesty has also been applied to 412 servicemen, who had committed crimes concerning their active service; they have been provided conditions to perform their duties and obligations to motherland.
In all, the decision was applied to 13772 persons.
Inquiry bodies, those of preliminary consideration and court continue to apply the resolution of the Milli Majlis of the Republic of Azerbaijan of May 6, 2003 “On Amnesty on the occasion of the Victory over Fascism in World War II.”
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan expressed confidence that the people released by the amnesty acts would suitably perform their civic duty and obligations, respect law and devotedly serve motherland
