Leyla Yunus

European Court Fines Azerbaijan 17,000 EUR in Leyla and Arif Yunus’ Case

European Court of Human Rights has announced its judgment concerning human rights defenders Arif and Leyla Yunus, as reported by lawyer Javad Javadov. The complaint had been submitted to the European Court over the violations of law such as the applicants’ poor detention conditions, including lack of proper medical care. Leyla and Arif Yunus were arrested in 2014. They were charged with state betray, fraud, tax evasion, illegal business, falsification of documents and deliberate use of fake documents. On June 23, 2015, the criminal case aagainst...

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Supreme Court Unlawfully Postpones Leyla and Arif Yunus’ Appeal Hearing

Supreme Court, chaired by judge Hafiz Nasibov, held a hearing on the cassational complaint filed as part of the criminal case of human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus. Leyla and Arif Yunus were arrested in 2014. They were charged with state betray, fraud, tax evasion, illegal business, falsification of documents and deliberate use of fake documents. On June 23, 2015, the criminal case against Leyla and Arif Yunus was split in order to investigate the treason charges in a separate proceeding. At the conclusion of...

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Arif and Leyla Yunus Appeal to Lift Travel Ban Imposed on Them

February 19, 2016 Human rights defenders Leyla and Arif Yunus have appealed the Yasamal District Court’s February 11, 2016 decision, which denied them permission to leave the country for a temporary period to receive medical treatment. According to their lawyer Elchin Sadigov, the appeal was submitted to the court on February 19. Leyla and Arif Yunus were arrested in 2014. They were charged with treason, fraud, tax evasion, illegal business, falsification of documents and deliberate use of falsified documents. On June 23, 2015, the criminal case against...

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Human Rights Defenders Are in Critical Condition

The director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, human rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus are both in critical condition, reported a family friend, psychologist Azad Isazade. Arif and Leyla Yunus were arrested in 2014. On August 13, 2015, Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Arif Yunus to 7 years and Leyla Yunus to 8.5 years in jail. On December 9, 2015, Baku Court of Appeal commuted their prison sentences into suspended sentences with 5-year probation, and both were released. According to Isazade, Leyla...

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Leyla Yunus released from prison / Summary: Hearing 7 (December 9)

Summary: Hearing 7 (December 9) * Defense lawyers made speeches at the hearing, requesting the acquittal of Leyla and Arif Yunus; * Arif Yunus made a speech stating that he and Leyla Yunus reject the charges against them, and requesting the court to acquit them on medical grounds; * When Leyla Yunus was making her speech, the judge turned off the microphone and interrupted her; * The victim’s representative in his speech noted that the appellate complaints were unfounded and requested that the original verdict of Baku Grave Crimes...

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Leyla Yunus released

Human rights defender Leyla Yunus was released by the Baku Court of Appeal on December 9. The court overturned the penalty given under Article 320 of the Criminal Code (falsification of documents) due to the expiry of the prosecution deadline, and issued a 5-year suspended sentence for Leyla Yunus on the remaining charges. Her husband, Arif Yunus, was earlier released on a 5-year suspended sentence. The appellate court also rescinded the decision to seize the apartment belonging to Dinara Yunus, the daughter of Arif and Leyla.

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Leyla Yunus’ trial continues

Summary: Hearing 6 (December 07) *Leyla Yunus' lawyer Elchin Sadigov requested the court to commute his client’s prison sentence; * Leyla Yunus' other lawyer Ramiz Mammadov said his client needed to be acquitted as she had not been proven guilty; * Rana Safaraliyeva's representative asked that the court reject the appeal; * The public prosecutor said the verdict should be upheld as Leyla and Arif Yunus had been proven guilty. On December 7, Baku Court of Appeal, chaired by the judge Vugar Mammadov, continued the hearing on the criminal...

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Lawyer warns of deteriorating health of Leyla Yunus in jail

The medical condition of imprisoned human rights defender Leyla Yunus remains serious, reported her lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, on November 24. According to the lawyer, Yunus suffers from digestive problems, which are exacerbated by her diabetes and liver cirrhosis. Sadigov says that they have not received a response to their request to transfer Leyla Yunus to the medical facility of the Baku Detention Facility, where she is currently being held. He added that after examining Leyla Yunus on October 30, the doctor deemed her condition serious, and even warned...

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Representatives of Ombudsman’s Office visit Leyla Yunus and Khadija Ismayil

On November 18, members of the National Preventive Group (NPG) of the Ombudsman’s Office visited Baku Detention Facility of the Justice Ministry’s Penitentiary Service to assess appeals, detention conditions and treatment, reported the press service of the Ombudsman’s Office. The group members also met with human rights defender Leyla Yunus and journalist Khadija Ismayil, who are being held in...

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Arif Yunus advised not to talk to the media

Arif Yunus, the human rights defender released on recognizance, has been advised against talking to the media, said Azad Isazade after visiting Arif Yunus on November 18. According to Isazade, Arif Yunus’ blood pressure is subject to frequent fluctuations, and he is under medical supervision. He has been advised by his lawyers and doctors against giving any media interviews.