Malcolm Bruce MP Secures Release of Political Prisoners in Azerbaijan
March 22, 2005 12:48 PM
Azerbaijan has announced the release of 49 political prisoners following the intervention of Gordon Liberal Democrat MP, Malcolm Bruce, who is Rapporteur on Political Prisoners for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
Mr Bruce briefly visited Baku last week where he met the Pardons Commission, NGOs, families and prisoners and also had his fourth meeting with President Ilham Aliev.
Mr Bruce commented:
"This is a very significant step toward resolving the issue of political prisoners in Azerbaijan. All but three of the prisoners on the original list have been released. The Government have also taken the significant step of releasing most of those jailed after the presidential elections, including the seven identified as opposition leaders.
"This is an essential move towards enabling Azerbaijan to have free and fair elections later this year. That could not have been considered possible had so many of the opposition remained in jail.
"These releases will, I know, be widely welcomed in Azerbaijan."
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