Accessibility links

Breaking News

Jailed Azerbaijani Activist's Health Deteriorating, Lawyer Says


Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus was arrested with her husband in August, and they are being held in pretrial detention on charges of high treason and other crimes.
Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus was arrested with her husband in August, and they are being held in pretrial detention on charges of high treason and other crimes.

BAKU -- A lawyer for jailed Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus says her health has deteriorated drastically.

Lawyer Elcin Qambarov told RFE/RL on November 24 that a detention center doctor who examined Yunus recently gave her a diagnosis of advanced liver disease and a high blood-sugar level.

Qambarov said that Yunus's blood pressure fluctuates dramatically and that she has lost 10 kilograms since her arrest in July.

He said the detention center had refused to process her lawyers' request for access to official documents related to her medical examination.

Yunus, 58, is a fierce critic of Azerbaijan's poor rights record.

Her husband, Arif Yunus, 59, was arrested in August, and they are being held in pretrial detention on charges of high treason and other crimes.

Yunus and her husband say the charges are politically motivated.

Western governments and human rights groups have called for their immediate release.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG