Azerbaijan ex-minister among hundreds pardoned by president

Azerbaijan ex-minister among hundreds pardoned by president
Former minister Ali Insanov was among 431 people pardoned or allotted reduced sentences Saturday by President Ilham Aliev.
1 min read
17 March, 2019
Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliev pardoned hundreds of people [AFP/Getty]
A former health minister of Azerbaijan who has been imprisoned for 12 years has been pardoned by the country's president.

Ali Insanov was among 431 people pardoned or allotted reduced sentences Saturday in a decree signed by President Ilham Aliev ahead of the Nowruz new year's holiday.

Fuad Qahramanli and Gozal Bayramli, deputy leaders of the opposition Popular Front of Azerbaijan Party, are also among the pardoned along with pro-opposition youth activists.

Amnesty estimated there were over 100 victims of politically motivated prosecution in Azerbaijani jails in 2018.

Insanov was arrested in 2005 and initially charged with plotting to overthrow the government. That charge was dropped, and in 2007 he was convicted of illegal privatisation of state assets.

Two years ago he was additionally convicted of harbouring psychotropic substances while in prison and of scuffling with a prison employee.

Insanov claimed the charges were cooked up to keep him imprisoned. Human rights groups considered him a political prisoner.

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