Azerbaijan, Baku, March 17 / Trend , J.Babayeva/
The Azerbaijani parliament approved an amnesty bill by Azerbaijani First Lady and member of parliament Mehriban Aliyeva on the eve of Novruz on March 17.
Aliyeva submitted an amnesty bill on March 10 to parliament.
The bill concerns 9,000 prisoners, and envisages releasing 1,700.
Earlier, the parliament approved Aliyeva's bill in May 2007.
In accordance with 45 signed pardon decrees, 4,858 people have been set free since 1994. President Ilham Aliyev inked 13 decrees and former President Heydar Aliyev - 32 decrees. Eight amnesty acts have been signed so far concerning 40,000 prisoners.
The amnesty bill cannot be applied to persons who committed serious and heinous crimes, caused damage at over 50,000 manat, failed to completely pay off property damage, were arrested for dangerous recurrent crimes or are considered dangerous recidivists in accordance with the Penal Code valid until Sep. 1, 2000.
The bill also cannot be applied to persons who were exempted from punishment in line with amnesty and pardon bills after Oct. 18, 1991 and again committed a crime.