The appeal of Leyla and Arif Yunusov postponed again

Baku Court of Appeal on October 20 returned the criminal case against Leila and Arif Yunus and the Baku Serious Crimes  Court. The reason for this became a lawyer Elchin Sadigov's comments on minutes of meetings of the  First Instance Court. The lawyer pointed out inaccuracies in the records. In this regard, the judge Vugar Mammadov postponed a preliminary hearing for an indefinite period.

Today Leyla  and Arif Yunus again have been placed in the chamber, the aquarium and in front of them lined up 25 bailiffs and guards. Therefore, the defendants were not seen or heard. Members of the group of public support  protest  the actions of marshals and guards. However, the judge demanded silence. At the last meeting  on 15 October Yunus managed to make a statement until she was taken from the door to the glass chamber. Today, observers and journalists were allowed into the hall only after a couple Yunus were placed to a glass cage. Thus, they made deprived of the opportunity to make a statement.

* On August 13 the Baku Serious Crimes  Court sentenced Leyla Yunus to 8.5 years in prison, and Arif Yunusov to seven years on charges of illegal business, tax evasion and support documents. The charge of treason was previously separated. The spouses Yunus rejected the accusations and consider them politically motivated. Amnesty International recognized them as "prisoners of conscience."- 03C-