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Peter Semneby, Andres Herkel and Yevgeniya Jivkova approve pardon decree

28 December 2007 17:13 (UTC +04:00)

â€œBut this decision is a positive step,â€ he said.
Special representative said that European Union was always anxiety about imprisonment of journalists and political prisoners in Azerbaijan and this organization will welcome this pardon. Moreover, Mr. Semneby said that it would be better if other imprisoned journalists are released.
Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (PACE) Monitoring Committee co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan Andres Herkel also approved pardon decree.
â€œThis is positive step, but pardoning does not mean abolishment of court decision and their imprisonment remains. There are no names of several imprisoned journalists in the pardon list. For example: Eynullah Fatullayev, Mirza Sakit, Rasim Akbarov,â€ he said.
PACE Monitoring Committee co-rapporteur on Azerbaijan Yevgeniya Jivkova also said that he approves pardon decree and congratulated Azerbaijani nation on such pleasant occasion on the eve of New Year. She expressed her hope that this positive tendency will continue.
â€œOSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights support Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevâ€™s decision on releasing political prisoners and journalists,â€ OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights told the APA. Office said that the people should not be imprisoned for their opinions, but for criminal activity. /APA/