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Leyla Yunus: Iâ€™ve practically been head of Society of Women in the Near Caucasus, society used to play role of umbrella

05 August 2015 11:47 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Etibar Mammadov – APA. The Baku Court on Grave Crimes on Tuesday continued the trial of Leyla Yunus, the imprisoned director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD), and her husband Arif Yunus, APA reported.

During the process presided over by judge Afghan Hajiyev, lawyer Afghan Mammadov objected to the composition of the court. Leyla Yunus made a noise and insulted the judge.

Arif Yunus said that as he is sick, it is difficult for him to stand the trial every day. He asked the court to hold the hearing in his absence. “I am attending the hearings taking medicines. I feel like in my own house in the Ministry of National Security. They take care of me,” he said.

Public prosecutor Farid Naghiyev said that the lawyer didn’t justify his objection.

Public prosecutor said that Arif Yunus is being kept under the supervision of a physician, thus there is no reason for concern.

The court decided not to consider the objections due to the lack of sufficient grounds.

Attorney Ramiz Mammadov demanded an end to several articles on the criminal case, invitation of representatives of foundations which finance the persons he is defending or have ties with them, and addition of books Arif Yunus printed at the expense of these grants to the criminal case as material evidence. The petition’s part of the addition of books to the criminal case ensured.

The process went on with the analysis of judicial documents, which include banking transactions, negotiations Arif Yunus had to buy a house in the Czech Republic, documents seized in time of a search into the houses of the convicts in Baku, etc.

Following the analysis of the documents, Leyla Yunus asked for the floor. She said that she had been the chairwoman of the Society of Women of Azerbaijan for Peace and Democracy in the Near Caucasus, which was registered in 1996.

“I have practically been head of the society. Rana Safaraliyeva was the legal chairwoman of the organization. However, she did not use participate in the society’s activities at all. This society used to play the role of umbrella. The Institute of Peace and Democracy, Women’s Crisis Center, and the Organization of Protection from Mines were also included. Later on, we appealed for these organizations to be registered. All those grants used to be transferred to the society’s account since it had undergone state registration. As the society’s chairwoman, I was in charge of receiving the funds. No documents have been counterfeited and there have been no cases of tax evasion,” she argued.

The court investigation was completed.

The hearing will be continued on August 6 with the speech of public prosecutor.

A criminal case was launched against Leyla Yunus under articles #274 (treason), 178.3.2 (fraud with causing damage in the large size), 192.2.2 (illegal business with extraction of income in the large size), 213.2.2 (tax evasion with causing damage in large amount), 320.1 (Fake of certificate or other official document giving the rights or releasing from duties, with a view of its use or selling of such document, as well as manufacturing in same purposes or selling of counterfeit state awards of the Azerbaijan Republic, stamps, seals, forms) and 320.2 (use of obviously counterfeit documents provided in article 320.1) of the Criminal Code. Arif Yunus was arrested on 5 August 2014 over charges under articles #178.3.2 (fraud with causing damage in the large size) and 274 (treason) of the Criminal Code.

The criminal case on Leyla and Arif Yunus under article #274 (treason) has been sent to a separate trial. The Baku Court of Grave Crimes is currently considering the cases on fraud and other crimes.