IRNA: Azerbaijan transfers four Iranian inmates under resumed prisoner exchange

Four Iranian citizens serving sentences in Azerbaijan have been transferred to Iran to continue serving their prison terms, the Iranian Ministry of Justice stated on October 18, according to IRNA.

Askar Jalalian, Deputy Minister for Human Rights and International Affairs and head of the Prisoner Exchange Committee, said the prisoners were handed over to Iranian authorities in the northern Gilan province for further detention.

He noted that most Iranians imprisoned abroad, especially in neighbouring countries, are convicted of drug trafficking or possession of illegal substances. Many are arrested due to unawareness of local laws or because they unintentionally transported packages containing prohibited items.

The prisoner exchange agreement between Iran and Azerbaijan had been suspended for the past three years.

By Khagan Isayev