Azernews.Az

BAKU – A list for another pardon decree has been submitted to the Azerbaijani president, a lawmaker who sits on the presidential amnesty commission has said.

President Ilham Aliyev is expected to sign a decree to release a number of inmates on the occasion of December 31, the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis and New Year’s eve.

MP Elmira Akhundova told journalists that the commission has received over 300 applications and reviewed all of them. She said the persons to be pardoned might include those committing domestic violence crimes, traffic violators and those who infringed upon the Administrative Offenses Code.

"This will be one of the massive amnesties," Akhundova said.

She said women are among those to be pardoned. "Usually, we do not come across women’s names in pardon decrees, because women usually commit more serious crimes. This time, however, four women have been included in the pardon list."

According to Akhundova, the list also includes foreign nationals, and they will be deported from Azerbaijan after their release.

Over 5,000 people have been released under 47 presidential pardon decrees in the country since 1994. 15 of the decrees were signed by President Ilham Aliyev, while 32 had been previously enacted by Azerbaijan’s late national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev.