AZERBAIJAN: Azeri authorities release dozens of prisoners by a decree of amnesty, including nine activists detained for their role in protests in spring 2011

Record ID: 218266

  • Title: AZERBAIJAN: Azeri authorities release dozens of prisoners by a decree of amnesty, including nine activists detained for their role in protests in spring 2011
  • Date: 24th June 2012
  • Summary: ARMED SERVICEMEN OUTSIDE PRISON GATE VARIOUS RELATIVES AND FRIENDS HUGGING RELEASED PRISONERS ANOTHER PRISON GATE WITH AZERI FLAG PAINTED ON IT PRISON NAME PLATE IN AZERI PRISON OFFICERS AT TABLE ADDRESSING THREE PRISONERS IN BACK PRISONERS, ONE COVERING FACE WITH HAND PRISONERS' REGISTRATION CARDS NEAR OFFICIAL AMNESTY DECREE LETTER ON TABLE PRISONER RECEIVING PAPE
  • Embargoed: 9th July 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Azerbaijan
  • Country: Azerbaijan
  • Topics: Crime,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA7KWSSLIB0QACG8DKECCV5SMX6
  • Story Text: Azeri authorities released dozens of people on Saturday (June 23) following a decree which granted amnesty to 66 prisoners, including nine activists detained for their role in anti-government protests in spring 2011.
    Azerbaijan President President Ilham Aliyev, whose government presides over the nation of 9 million, signed the decree on Friday (June 22).
    Pardoned prisoners, accused of various crimes not related to any political activity, left jails in Baku on Saturday in front of TV cameras and were greeted by their relatives and friends.
    Eight opposition activists, who spent more than a year in prisons outside Baku were reportedly released without media presence.
    Earlier on Friday, one of opposition party activists, deputy head of Musavat (Equality) party Arif Hacili left prison as well. He thanked international rights groups like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch for their support and said his release was also a result of pressure made by opposition activists inside the country.
    "I think local political parties and local independent opposition mass media, representatives of intelligentsia and some (parliament) deputies have continuously been demanding our release, and I'm sure all these demands have finally become a reason for our release," Hacili said adding "While being in prison I didn't stop my political activity, I am one of the leaders of the opposition party Musavat, and starting from tomorrow (June 23), I will continue my political activity, I will continue my struggle for democratic reforms."
    Many opposition activists were arrested by riot police during an unsanctioned rally in central Baku in April 2011. One of the opposition leaders said then, after the protest, that about 1,000 people had taken part and more than 200 were arrested.
    Oil-rich Azerbaijan, a mainly Muslim former Soviet state sandwiched between Russia, Iran and Turkey, is governed by strongman leader Ilham Aliyev, whose rule is often lambasted by international rights groups for curbing public dissent.
    Under pressure from the West, the Caspian Sea state which is a key energy supplier to Europe and a transit route for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, also released several opposition bloggers and reporters in recent months.
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