Leyla Yunus' advocate reports on her health problems

In Azerbaijan, Leyla Yunus, an arrested human rights defender, faces deterioration of health state because of diabetes, and she got a foot abscess, advocate Alaif Gasanov reports. The arrested human rights defender herself reports on new cases of violence against her.

On September 3, Leyla Yunus was visited by the advocate. He claims that the human rights defender complained about pressure from her cellmate and warders of the SIZO (pre-trial prison), claimed the lack of medical care and reported on a provocation in preparation aimed to place her in a punishment cell. The Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan denies violation of the rights of the human rights defender.

So, after the arrest of Arif Yunus, no one received the transfers with food products and medicines for Leyla Yunus during almost three weeks. Moreover, the woman complained about "mental and physical pressure" used against her by prisoner Nurida Guseinova.

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders has urged the Azerbaijani authorities to ensure their physical safety. The statement contains an appeal to place Leyla Yunus in another cell and "conduct a thorough investigation into the attacks on her."

According to Elchin Bekhbudov, the head of the Azerbaijani Committee against Torture, the human rights defenders have no access to penitentiary institutions, and they face no obstacles in conducting monitoring in places of detention of other departments.

Arif Yunus, the husband of Leyla Yunus, is being kept at the SIZO of the Ministry of National Security (MNS). According to advocate Khalid Bagirov, his client does not complain about the conditions of detention.