International Organizations Demand to Release Leila and Arif Yunus

«Azerbaijan authorities are doing everything possible to put pressure on independent civil society in the country." This was stated by the representative of the Human Rights House Foundation Anne Tusvik Bunde commenting the conviction of Leila and Arif Yunus.

She urged the international community to express support for the human rights activists arrested in Azerbaijan, support their family and colleagues working in the "repressive environment."

"All political leaders and institutions have publicly called for the immediate and unconditional release of all the leaders of civil society," said Bunde.

In turn, the representative of Human Rights Watch Tatiana Lokshina, who was present at the sentencing, said: "The health status of Arif and Leila Yunus will not let them serve the sentence. This sentence is a death sentence for them."

The international human rights organization Freedom Now has also called for the release of Leila and Arif Yunus. Its Executive Director Maran Turner called the verdict on the spouses Yunus "shocking and shameful."

"Leila and Arif Yunus devoted much of their life to the protection of human rights and the resolution of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In view of their state of health, the sentence is tantamount to execution," said Turner. -16D-