According to Day.az website, Presidential Administration Socio-political Department head Ali Hasanov told journalists that the Press Council has appealed for the release of the imprisoned journalists, and the president has discussed this.
In response to a question about Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly President Lluís Maria de Puig’s comment that if the journalists are not released a special rapportuer on political prisoners will be appointed, Hasanov said that the government does not accept statements like this. According to Hasanov, all of the journalists were imprisoned for committing concrete criminal acts, therefore the government can only pardon them.
Some people are anticipating that the journalists will be released on 22 July, which is National Press Day in Azerbaijan.