Brussels, 18/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 17 March, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and European Parliament Vice-President for Human Rights and Democracy Alexander Lambsdorff (ALDE, Germany) hailed the pardon granted by Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev to 148 prisoners, 14 of whom are considered political prisoners.
This measure, which also involves political party representatives, and representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and journalists, “is a positive development which we have long awaited”, Mogherini stated in a press release, saying that she had discussed the situation during her visit to Azerbaijan on 29 February (see EUROPE 11502). “An independent and diverse civil society makes an important contribution to a country's wellbeing and stability”, she said. Mogherini stated that the EU “hopes that further steps will follow, leading to the full release and rehabilitation of all those currently imprisoned or under restriction of movement in Azerbaijan on political grounds”. She said that this would be in line with Azerbaijan's international commitments as a member of the United Nations, the Council of Europe, and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Lambsdorff said he was “relieved” to hear that political prisoners have been pardoned by the Azeri president. “Of course, they should not have been imprisoned in the first place. However, we see this step as a sign that the Azeri government is interested in restoring relations with the EU by respecting such fundamental rights as freedom of speech and assembly”, he said in a press release. Lambsdorff nevertheless stated that other human rights campaigners, like the journalist Khadija Ismayilova, Intagim Aliyev and Ilgar Mammadov, had been released.
Among the 148 prisoners are Anar Mammadi, the winner of the Council of Europe's Vaclav Havel Prize; human rights defenders Taleh Khasmamadov and Rasul Jafarov; journalists Parviz Hasimov, Hilal Mammadov and Rauf Mirkadirov; Musavat members Tofiq Yaqublu, Yadigar Sadiqov and Siraj Karimov; chairman of the National Statehood party, Nemat Panahli; and NIDA civic movement members Rashad Hasanov, Rashadat Akhoundov, Mammad Azizov and Omar Mammadov. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)