Details added (first version posted on 15:24)
Baku, Azerbaijan, March 17
Trend:
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree on March 17 pardoning 148 people.
Under the decree, 137 people, sentenced to imprisonment, have been freed from serving the remainder of the prison terms.
Moreover, six people were freed from the remainder of the correctional labor and five people were freed from the penalty in the form of a fine.
Sixteen foreign citizens are among the pardoned.
Representatives of political parties, NGOs, and journalists - Nemat Panahli, Tofig Yagublu, Yadigar Sadigov, Rashad Hasanov, Rashadat Akhundov, Mammad Azizov, Omar Mammadov, Rasul Jafarli, Parviz Hashimli, Taleh Khasmammadov, Anar Mammadli, Siraj Karimli, Hilal Mammadov, and Akif Muradverdiyev - are among those pardoned.
After reviewing appeals from a number of convicts, their family members, the Commissioner for Human Rights, organizations for human rights, addressed to the president of Azerbaijan, the decision on pardon was made proceeding from the principles of humanism, taking into account the personality, health condition, marital status of the convicts and their behavior while serving their sentences, according to the presidential decree.
Azerbaijan's Justice Ministry and State Migration Service have been tasked to ensure the deportation of foreign citizens freed from serving the remainder of their prison terms, in accordance with the rules set by the Migration Code.
The decree enters into force from the date of its signing.