Liberated activists urge to fight for rights of political prisoners in Azerbaijan (+video)

On March 17, more than 50 political prisoners pardoned by the President of Azerbaijan were released. They intend to continue their political and social activities.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 16, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev signed a decree pardoning 431 prisoners, including 51 political prisoners. However, other 74 people sentenced on political grounds are still kept in prisons, human rights defenders report.

While not all political prisoners have been released, it cannot be assumed that the justice has been restored, believes Giyas Ibragimov, a released activist of the movement "Nida".

The activist hopes that the release of part of political prisoners means the beginning of political changes in the country.

Bairam Mamedov, an activist of the movement "Nida", states that he "will continue the fight." "Prison hardens a person. This hardening allows us to continue the fight for our ideals," the activist said.

Gezyal Bairamly, the deputy chair of the Popular Front Party of Azerbaijan (PFPA), pardoned by Ilham Aliev, called her two-year imprisonment unjustified. According to the activist, she did not ask for pardoning.

Ali Insanov, the former Minister for Public Health of Azerbaijan, also announced his intention to fight against the regime and seek "the establishment of democracy in Azerbaijan," reports the "MeydanTV" Channel. Ali Insanov reminded that he was arrested in 2005 on the charge of attempting a coup and sentenced to 11 years of imprisonment.