Azerbaijani BCA upholds arrest of Arif Yunus

The Baku Court of Appeal (BCA) has dismissed the appeal against the arrest of Arif Yunus, a conflictologist and a staff member of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD). The defence intends to file a new motion demanding to change the pre-trial restriction measure in the form of arrest to the home arrest.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Arif Yunus, who was engaged at the IPD in considering the problems of conflictology and migration, was detained on August 5. On the same day, the pre-trial restriction measure has been pronounced against him in the form of three-month arrest. On July 30, Leyla Yunus, the wife of Arif Yunus, the IPD's Director, was detained in Baku.

The defence has challenged the decision on the arrest of Arif Yunus at the BCA; however, the Court has dismissed the appeal, said advocate Khalid Bagirov.

The advocate believes there is no need in keeping Arif Yunus in custody during the period of pre-trial investigation. Over the past two months, Arif Yunus has got two cases of hypertensive crisis and he has not yet fully recovered from the disease.

The Yunus spouses are to be provided with dietary food products and medicines, Azad Isazade, an activist of the civil society of Azerbaijan and a doctor by profession.

Azad Isazade believes in case of Leyla Yunus, the court should change the pre-trial restriction measure in the form of arrest to the home arrest, especially since "the human rights defender represents no danger to the public."