OSCE/ODIHR Director Link welcomes pardon of human rights defenders, activists and journalists in Azerbaijan

WARSAW, 19 March 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, welcomed today the pardon of a number of human rights defenders, activists and journalists by President Ilham Aliyev.

“This is a positive, welcome step by Azerbaijan in relation to the country's OSCE commitments,” Director Link said. “ODIHR stands ready to engage constructively with Azerbaijan to assist in the implementation of programmes and commitments in the human dimension."

Among those pardoned in the amnesty were prominent human rights defenders Anar Mammadli and Rasul Jafarov. While welcoming their release, the ODIHR Director noted that the situation of a number of other people remaining either in prison or with their movements restricted was also worthy of review.

“I would call on the authorities to review the cases of others either currently imprisoned or under such restrictive orders, including Intiqam Aliyev, Khadija Ismayilova, Ilqar Mammadov and Ilkin Rustamzada” he said.