EU hails pardoning of over 400 convicts in Azerbaijan

ANKARA

The EU has welcomed the pardon decree signed by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to give amnesty to over 400 convicts, marking the Nevruz (Spring) festival.

Under the presidential decree signed on Saturday, a total of 431 convicts were pardoned.

Among them, 399 convicts were freed from the unserved part of their prison sentences, according to Azerbaijani news agency Trend.

The EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic called the presidential decree a "welcome step" and said among those pardoned are also representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations, bloggers and journalists.

Kocijancic also said the EU "expects that further similar steps will follow in future in line with Azerbaijan's international commitments".

"The EU will continue its engagement with Azerbaijan to step up the cooperation, including on human rights, which constitutes an essential element of our relationship," she added.

Among the pardoned are 14 foreign citizens -- including three Georgian citizens, two each from Russia and Nigeria, and one each from Turkey, Iran, Uzbekistan, China, Cameroon, India and Belarus, Trend said.

Nevruz festival, which traditionally marks the arrival of spring, is celebrated in some countries of the Middle East, as well as central and southern Asia.