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Imprisoned journalist released in Azerbaijan

Society Materials 9 April 2009 10:38 (UTC +04:00)
Imprisoned journalist released in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, Baku, April 9 / Trend , K. Zarbaliyeva/

Imprisoned journalist of the Azadlig newspaper Mirza Sakit was released at early morning on April 9 under the Pardon Act adopted by Azerbaijani First Lady, Heydar Aliyev Foundation President, UNESCO and ISESCO Good-Will Ambassador and MP Mehriban Aliyeva on occasion of the Novruz Holiday, the Penal Service told Trend .

Sakit was sentenced to three years in jail in 2006. He was accused of illegally storing narcotics. Journalist claimed he had been imprisoned upon a political request and attributes it to his radical articles.

Azerbaijani parliament adopted a bill on Pardon on Occasion of Novruz Holiday introduced by Mehriban Aliyeva on March 17.

The Pardon Act will be applied to 9,000 prisoners. As many as 1,700 prisoners will be released.

The Penal Service said about 1,000 prisoners have been released under the last Pardon Act thus far.

Eight Pardon Acts have been adopted since 1995. The acts applied to about 80,000 prisoners. As many as 39,000 have been released.  

There are currently three imprisoned journalists in Azerbaijan.

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