19:07, 24 September 2014

Azerbaijan: SIZO officer beats up rights defender Yunus, her advocates assert

Leyla Yunus, Director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), who is kept at the Baku SIZO (pre-trial prison) No. 1, was beaten up by an employee of the SIZO, her advocates report in their statement. They demanded an inquiry and punishment of those guilty.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on September 22 one of the advocates Khalid Bagirov was not admitted to the above SIZO to meet his client Leyla Yunus, which caused concern for her fate in all the defenders, who demanded to allow them to meet Leyla. However, on September 23, Elchin Gambarov, another advocate, was not allowed to see her.

Only on September 24, the advocates Fariz Namazly and Javad Javadly finally managed to meet their client, said a joint statement of five Leyla's advocates – Elchin Gambarov, Fariz Namazly, Javad Javadly, Khalid Bagirov and Alaif Gasanov.

According to the advocates, because of absence of hot water, Leyla had to take a cold shower and caught a bad chill. But, despite this, "she received no medical care."

The Public Relations (PR) Division of the Penitentiary Service said that Leyla Yunus is kept in the conditions compliant with the law and ensuring the respect of human dignity.

Author: Faik Medzhid

Source: CK correspondent