17:44, 22 January 2004

10 prisoners facing charges in connection with October events in Baku released

10 people arrested as participants in the mass riots of October 15 and 16, 2003 were set free on January 21. The Interior Ministry and Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan announced in their joint statement that this had been done towards people who were "not organizers of the mass riots", and their repentance, family status and appeal to Azerbaijan President Ilkham Aliyev had been taken into account.

As reported by Turan Information Agency, the only woman arrested in connection with the evens in question, Arifa Farzani, is among those released. The other 9 people are Yashar Jafarli, chairman of the Reserve Officers Association, and 8 ordinary members of opposition parties.

Yashar Jafarli denied the statement by the Interior Ministry and Prosecutor General's Office that the released people had admitted their guilt and asked the head of the state to set them free. "As for me, I have never admitted my guilt and never appealed to the president," said Yashar Jafarli. Arifa Farzani said the same thing.

Meanwhile, investigation is still holding against the released people, and they are not discharged.

Source: TURAN Information Agency (Azerbaijan)