COPENHAGEN, 17 March 2016 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Ilkka Kanerva (MP, Finland) and the Chairperson of the OSCE PA Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), today welcomed the release of 148 individuals serving jail terms in Azerbaijan following a pardon decree issued by President Ilham Aliyev.

The group includes human rights defenders, activists, journalists and members of political parties.

“I welcome this ethical decision by President Aliyev to release such a wide range of people. This is a decision that the international community, including the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, has long hoped for and long urged. We will continue to encourage Azerbaijan to fulfill its OSCE commitments and I look forward to future constructive dialogue and progress,” President Kanerva said.

“I am happy to finally have the opportunity to welcome a positive step for human rights in Azerbaijan. Today’s release includes a number of prisoners of conscience, including Rasul Jafarov and Anar Mammadli, whose cases I have repeatedly raised with my Azerbaijani counterparts. I hope all of them will once again be able to contribute to dialogue in the country. I also hope this is a sign of willingness to strengthen the rule of law in Azerbaijan and that there will soon be no individuals behind bars or restricted in their movement due to their reporting, political affiliations, activism or views,” Chairperson Santos said.

A senior OSCE PA delegation visited Azerbaijan on 25 January, meeting with President Aliyev, Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov, Prime Minister Artur Rasizade, Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, members of the Azerbaijani Delegation to the OSCE PA and members of civil society.