According to AssA-Irada, the relevant presidential decree said that the list of persons affected by the measure was compiled considering the appeals filed by inmates, their family members, the Ombudsman and rights defenders, as well as the health state and the conduct of prisoners.

This is the eighth pardon decree enacted by Aliyev since being elected the President of Azerbaijan in 2003. The last one was signed on June 20, 2005 and pardoned 100 people, including 23 considered by the Council of Europe as "political prisoners".

More than 4,300 people have been released from prison on presidential decrees since 1995.