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Associated Press International
July 31, 2014 Thursday 8:33 PM GMT
2 Azerbaijan rights activists charged with treason
BAKU, Azerbaijan
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) - Two prominent human rights activists in
Azerbaijan have been charged with spying for Armenia, with one of them
jailed for three months pending trial.
In a joint statement issued Thursday the general prosecutor's office
and national security ministry outlined the charges against Leila and
Arif Yunus, accusing the couple of recruiting citizens of Azerbaijan
to work for the secret services of Armenia. Tensions between the
neighboring former Soviet republics remain high over the disputed
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Human Rights Watch said the charges "are bogus and intended to silence
them" and called for an end to "this campaign of intimidation against
Azerbaijan's leading human rights defenders."
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the charges are
"deeply concerning and represent a further restriction on peaceful
civil society activities in Azerbaijan."
"These charges appear to be connected with their participation in
constructive people-to-people programs that aim to ease tensions and
build confidence in the region," she said. "We urge the Government of
Azerbaijan to respect the universal rights of its citizens, ensure
they are afforded all the fair trial guarantees to which all citizens
are entitled, and allow them to freely express their views in
accordance with international human rights commitments and
obligations."
Leila Yunus was detained Wednesday and ordered held for three months.
Her husband was allowed to remain free under police supervision.
July 31, 2014 Thursday 8:33 PM GMT
2 Azerbaijan rights activists charged with treason
BAKU, Azerbaijan
BAKU, Azerbaijan (AP) - Two prominent human rights activists in
Azerbaijan have been charged with spying for Armenia, with one of them
jailed for three months pending trial.
In a joint statement issued Thursday the general prosecutor's office
and national security ministry outlined the charges against Leila and
Arif Yunus, accusing the couple of recruiting citizens of Azerbaijan
to work for the secret services of Armenia. Tensions between the
neighboring former Soviet republics remain high over the disputed
territory of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Human Rights Watch said the charges "are bogus and intended to silence
them" and called for an end to "this campaign of intimidation against
Azerbaijan's leading human rights defenders."
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said the charges are
"deeply concerning and represent a further restriction on peaceful
civil society activities in Azerbaijan."
"These charges appear to be connected with their participation in
constructive people-to-people programs that aim to ease tensions and
build confidence in the region," she said. "We urge the Government of
Azerbaijan to respect the universal rights of its citizens, ensure
they are afforded all the fair trial guarantees to which all citizens
are entitled, and allow them to freely express their views in
accordance with international human rights commitments and
obligations."
Leila Yunus was detained Wednesday and ordered held for three months.
Her husband was allowed to remain free under police supervision.