OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC INFORMS
On July 16, 2007, Head of the Presidential Office Mr. Ramiz Mehdiyev received here Mr. Ken Roth, Executive Director of the organization Human Rights Watch, in the presence of other officials.
Activities of journalists, pardoning of journalists and persons pretending themselves to be journalists, who had been convicted of various crimes, the lawful actions of police officers during the 2005 parliamentary elections and post-election mass riots, and other issues were discussed during the talks.
Mr. K. Roth appealed to the Head of the Presidential Office Mr. R. Mehdiyev for a pardon of the convicts. Mr. R. Mehdiyev stated that should the convicted persons appeal for a pardon, and in case the Pardoning Commission considers and takes a positive decision on their appeals, then the related materials will be submitted to the President of the Azerbaijan Republic.
However, speaking, July 16, 2007, on the ANS TV channel’s “Nazar Nogtesi” (Viewpoint) program, Mr. K. Roth distorted Mr. R. Mehdiyev’s words saying he allegedly “promised to advise the President to pardon those persons.”
In this connection, the Office of the President states that the wording used by Mr. Roth on the ANS TV channel’s “Nazar Nogtesi” program was incorrect.
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