Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend K.Zarbaliyeva / The working group that addresses problems of political prisoners, which is comprised of representatives from Azerbaijani Parliament and Heads of NGOs, held their latest meeting on 11 April. Chingiz Ganizade, a member of the working group said that political prisoners were identified at the meeting. Mr. Ganizade also stressed that according to the recent order of the Azerbaijani President, fourteen political prisoners were pardoned. Regarding ill political prisoners, Mr. Ganizade said that those in authority have been notified that these prisoners have for the most part served their life imprisonment but now are sick. The Heads of the NGOs consider it necessary to pardon Mehdi Mehdiyev, Pirali Orujov, Mushvif Madatov, Shamsi Samadzade.
In addition, the meeting covered the issue of legally pardoning Novruz Hasanov, the former Chief of the Gazakh District Police Department. Authorities say that if Hasanov, who presently lives as an emigrant in Turkey, appeals, his issue may be favourably resolved.