Presidential amnesty decree in Nakhchivan leads to release of foreign nationals PHOTO

The implementation of an amnesty decree in Nakhchivan, initiated by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and ratified by the Milli Majlis (Parliament) on December 19, has officially commenced.

The amnesty is being executed at the mixed-regime penitentiary facility of the Penitentiary Service under the Ministry of Justice of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The decree affects a total of 128 convicted individuals in Nakhchivan, with 57 set to be released. On the first day of implementation, 15 individuals were granted freedom, including six foreign nationals—two each from Türkiye, Iran, and Turkmenistan.

Authorities emphasized that the amnesty is part of broader efforts to facilitate reintegration and provide a measure of leniency in accordance with legal procedures.

To recall, the Ministry of Justice said its departments have been fully mobilised to carry out the amnesty swiftly and in accordance with the law.

The measure was approved by parliament following a presidential initiative and applies to a broad range of categories.

Officials say the amnesty will be the largest in Azerbaijan’s history by the number of people affected.

More than 20,000 individuals are expected to benefit, including over 5,000 prisoners released from custody, sentence reductions for more than 3,000 inmates, the release of more than 7,000 people from restrictions on liberty, and the lifting of non-custodial or suspended sentences for around 4,000 others. More than 1,000 individuals will be exempted from criminal liability.

Full implementation of the amnesty is expected to take up to four months.

By Vafa Guliyeva