Azerbaijan, Baku / corr. Trend I.Alizade / Member of the Pardon Commission, Zalimkhan Yagub, stated that it is unrealistic to expect a pardon order to be signed by Republic Day on 28 May. The lawyers believe it is not possible to issue a pardon order and release 7 arrested journalists by Republic Day.
Yagub said that a pardon act had been signed recently, after which the Parliament of Azerbaijan passed an Amnesty Act. "Preparations need to be made to sign the next pardon order. The Pardon Commission will not currently be meeting and preparations will not be carried out to sign the pardon act by 28 May," he said.
Yagub stressed that the meeting of the Pardon Commission is not expected to be signed in the near future. The Pardon Commission always operates and considers received appeals. The final pardon act in Azerbaijan was signed on 19 March.