Arif Yunus faints at trial in Baku

In the Baku Court of Grave Crimes, at a session, where the case of rights defender Leyla Yunus and her husband is considered, the health condition of the latter – Arif Yunus – has sharply worsened; they had to call an ambulance.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Arif Yunus and his wife Leyla Yunus, Director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy (IPD), are accused of economic crimes and treason. On July 3, their case was sent to the court. The access to the sessions of Yunus' case, the last of them was held on July 28, is restricted for civil society activists, journalists and foreign diplomats.

Today, once again, the access of independent observers into the courtroom was restricted.

At about 10:50 a.m., an ambulance drove up to the courthouse; as it turned out, Arif Yunus felt bad at the session.

He lost consciousness, when the first witness was speaking, said the advocate Afgan Mamedov.

He recalled that after the start of the investigation, in April last year, before his arrest Arif had twice suffered from hypertensive crisis. "He is a sick man; that is why we so persistently asked to place him at least under house arrest. Apparently, the transportation in a stuffy paddy at 40-degree heat affected his condition, not to mention the constant stress from unfair prosecution," said Mamedov.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.