New pardon act to be submitted to Azerbaijani parliament

"The draft Pardon Act is ready and we will submit it to the parliament after the Nowruz holiday," MP from opposition Musavat Party Panah Huseynov said.

In 2009, prior to Nowruz holiday the parliament was submitted a draft pardon act initiated by Azerbaijan's First Lady, President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, UNESCO and ISESCO Goodwill Ambassador, MP Mehriban Aliyeva.

This act, approved by Parliament, covered about 9,564 prisoners.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to pardon a number of persons in custody o Dec.25, 2009.

The order referred to 99 prisoners.

According to 46 pardon orders, signed since 1994, 4,957 people were freed from punishment.

Some 14 of them were signed by Ilham Aliyev and 32 by the late President Heydar Aliyev.

Eight pardon acts signed until now has covered 40,000 prisoners.

If other MPs do not submit such a bill to the parliament earlier, then MPs from Musavat party will try to submit their bill to the parliamentary discussion before May 28 - Republic Day.

"The bill on an amnesty may be prepared by other deputies. If such a draft would be submitted to the parliament on the initiative of other members, we would only support this project," he added.


/Trend News/