Court marshals would not let Yunus' supporters into courtroom

Formally, the trial of Leyla and Arif Yunus in Baku is open; however, their supporters could not attend the today's session.

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 today's session at the Baku Court of Grave Crimes was held under heightened security measures, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports, noting that police units were concentrated near the courthouse and would not let people to approach the windows of the courtroom, where the trial is taking place.

Already an hour before the start of the session, journalists, NGO activists and employees of foreign diplomatic missions began coming to the courthouse willing to get in as observers. Court marshals let in only the employees of the Embassies of the USA, Great Britain and Germany.

Djamil Gasanli, the head of the National Council of Democratic Forces (NCDF), told the crowd outside the courthouse that the trial of the Yunus spouse was only formally declared as open.

"In fact, they hold a closed trial. Like all the rest of you, I was not allowed into the courtroom, although the authorities call it an open trial. In fact, it is a trial of the Inquisition, or just a farce, in the best case," said Gasanli.

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