Details added (first version posted on 10:55)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.18
By Ilkin Izzet - Trend:
Justice ministry's penitentiary service of Azerbaijan has started execution of order on pardon signed by President Ilham Aliyev.
President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on pardon of 84 people Oct.17. Some 2 Iranian citizens, 2 Georgian, 1 Turkish and 1 Pakistani citizen are on the list of the pardoned.
Three former members of the NIDA movement - Shahin Novruzlu, Elsever Mursalli and Bakhtiyar Guliyev, head of the NGO Hasan Guseynli are also among those pardoned.
Additionally, Lala Mammadova and Sabina Makhmudova were also released on Oct. 18.
Mammadova was serving sentence of 2 years and 3 months, having 9 months remaining on her sentence. She also publicly thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the commission on pardon.
Sabina Makhmudova, who had 3 more years on her sentence, also expressed gratitude to Azerbaijani president.
Member of the commission on pardon Zahid Garalov said that appeals of 100 female prisoners were considered in general, and the decision of pardon was made in accordance with severity of their crimes. He expressed hope that the pardoned will no longer get engaged in criminal activities.
Deputy chairman of the penitentiary service of the ministry of justice Hussein Alihanov said that the majority of women serve sentences for fraud.
He said that the amount of damage caused as a result of the commission of such crimes reaches tens of thousands AZN, so there are usually few women among those pardoned.
Members of the commission on pardon - Ombudsman Elmira Suleymanova and deputy Malahat Ibrahimgizi also appealed to the pardoned, expressing hope that they will refrain from crime activities in the future.