Leila Yunus calls to hold her trial in the climate of openness

Leila Yunus, Director of the Azerbaijani Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), has sent letters to the Yasamal District Court and the Supreme Court of Azerbaijan asking to hold the process against her, starting on March 2, in a large courtroom. She also insists on video recording of the hearings.

The "Caucasian Knot" correspondent learnt about it from Ms Yunus herself at today's press conference held at the IPD.

On March 2, the Yasamal District Court of Baku, presided by Judge Ragibu Gurbanov, plans to start considering the suit filed by Ramil Usubov, Minister of Internal Affairs of Azerbaijan, against Leila Yunus. We remind you that Mr Usubov asserts that in one of her interviews Ms Yunus had crippled the honour and dignity of his Ministry and seeks her apologies and compensation in the sum of 100,000 manats (about 120,000 US dollars).

According to Ms Yunus, her request of a trial in glasnost is well under Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guaranteeing the right to fair trial. As to video recording, she wants to make a 4-8-minute film about the trial and place it on the IPD website in the context of high interest to this case both in Azerbaijan and abroad.

Allakhverdi Mamedli, press secretary of the Supreme Court, told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent that the request of the IPD head about as large courtroom is outside the competence of the Supreme Court.

According to his story, the issue of having a big hall for the trial can only be settled by the Yasamal Court, if it addresses a request to executive authorities.

However, the Yasamal Court preferred to refrain from any comments on the case prior to start of the trial.