Azerbaijani human rights activist, her husband set at liberty
In Azerbaijan, the measure of restraint for director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy Leyla Yunus and her husband, political scientist Arif Yunus, was changed to probation.
As the Radio Azadliq website reports, the Baku Court of Appeal changed the measure of restraint from imprisonment to five years on probation. The measure of restraint for her husband, political scientist Arif Yunus, was also changed to five-year suspended sentence.
As reported, Leyla Yunus and Arif Yunus were arrested in July 2014. They were accused of fraud, illegal business, tax evasion, and falsification of documents. There was a separate proceeding against the human rights defenders over treason.
In August 2015, Leyla Yunus was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison, Arif was sentenced to 7 years.
November 12, the court changed the measure of restraint for Arif Yunus to house arrest due to poor health condition.
In June this year, on the day of opening of the European Games in Baku, six human rights activists gathered near the Azerbaijani Embassy in Kyiv and demanded the release of political prisoners and the end to harassment of civil society in this country.
