Azerbaijani human rights activist Leila Yunus rewarded with the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France

Leila Yunus, famous Azerbaijani human rights activist and Director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy (IPD), was rewarded with the National Order of the Legion of Honour of France for her struggle for human rights. The ceremony of Yunus’ rewarding with the French Order was held in the Embassy of France in Baku, in the evening of May, 22, the “Caucasian Knot” correspondent reports.

The state award of France was handed to her by Francois Zimeray, French Ambassador for human rights and international acknowledgment of the tragedy of the Holocaust, who specially arrived in Azerbaijan on the occasion.

Opening the ceremony Ambassador of France in Azerbaijan Pascal Monnier emphasized that rewarding Yunus with the National Order of the Legion of Honour was a manifestation of “the country’s attitude towards people who devoted themselves to human rights”.

“This high reward does not only support my personal struggle for human rights and democracy in Azerbaijan. It is a great support to all our democratic community that needs understanding and support so much”, Yunus said, in her turn.

She expressed regret that 25 years after the beginning of struggle against the Soviet empire, in spite of its collapse, democratic society had not yet been created in Azerbaijan.