Aliyev pardons 62
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev last Thursday enacted a pardon decree for 62 people, the president`s press service said.
Elnur Israfilov, who was arrested during the antigovernment protest on April 2, 2011, was among those pardoned under the presidential decree, which was signed on the occasion of March 21, Novruz Holiday.
The list of pardoned inmates also includes Ruslan Bashirli, chairman of the Yeni Fikir (New Thought) opposition youth movement, who recently asked President Aliyev in a letter to pardon him. Bashirli had been sentenced to seven years in prison in 2006 on charges of a coup attempt and illegal entrepreneurship.
Three foreign nationals -- all citizens of Georgia -- were pardoned as well.
Two of the inmates included in Aliyev`s pardon decree are women.
Thousands of people have been released in the country since 1994 under presidential pardon decrees issued both by President Ilham Aliyev and his predecessor, Heydar Aliyev.
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