Azerbaijan released an Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)'s reporter in Baku after 10 months of imprisonment, Fars news agency reports.

Anar Bayramli was freed following repeated requests by human rights organizations and activists and after Azeri President Ilham Aliyev signed a pardon order for 87 convicts, including a number of political prisoners.

Bayramli was arrested on February 17 after Azeri police incriminated him for alleged possession of drugs. A Baku court sentenced him to two years in prison on June 11 while his charges had not been proven. Someone had put drugs in a pocket of his coat which he was not wearing, FNA says.

The appeal court reduced his sentence from two years to 12 months on August 2 following broad protests by Azeri, Iranian and Turkish associations and international human rights organizations.