Court hearings of the case of Leyla and Arif Yunus

On 6 August 2015 Baku Court of Grave Crimes continued a hearing on the criminal case of Leyla Yunus, the imprisoned director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, and his husband Arif Yunus, APA reports.

The hearing presided over by judge Afgan Hajiyev, public prosecutor Farid Naghiyev addressed the court and said that the accused persons were engaged in illegal business and evaded taxes.

He said that during the activity of Leyla Yunus, the Institute for Peace and Democracy didn’t report to relevant agencies of Ministry of Taxes and Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. They only submitted certain reports to the Ministry of Finance.

The Prosecutor said there is no document that Leyla Yunus was deputy chair of the Society of Women of Azerbaijan for Peace and Democracy in the Near Caucasus. It was confirmed with the testimonies of the eyewitnesses. She has practically been head of the society. She is not the founder of the society. Leyla Yunus is not named in any legal documents of the society.

He added that bank representatives approved in their testimonies that a large amount of money was transferred to foreign banks. It was confirmed that Leyla Yunus transferred money from the society’s account to her personal bank account.

Naghiyev noted that accused persons were detained at the airport with documents of their foreign bank accounts and real property in their bags. It also shows that they wanted to leave the country forever.

The public prosecutor said that Leyla Yunus had 17 accounts in Accessbank, 19 in Unibank,

Arif Yunus had 14 accounts in Accessbank and 4 in Unibank. Only 4 of 27 grant agreements signed by Leyla Yunus were registered.

He asked to seize funds in bank accounts of Leyla and Arif Yunus and ensure the payment of damages to the state from these accounts.

The prosecutor demanded 11-year imprisonment for Leyla Yunus and 9- year imprisonment for Arif Yunus.

 The hearing will be continued on August 10 with the address of defendants to the court.

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