Watchdog

Rights group Amnesty International has called for the immediate release of Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus amid reports her health has been rapidly deteriorating.

Amnesty said in an August 12 statement that authorities have refused to provide Yunus with medical assistance or medication for diabetes and kidney disease.

The group said Yunus has been complaining of pains and weakness but that prison authorities have refused to hospitalize her.

Yunus, a 57-year-old fierce critic of Azerbaijan's poor rights record, was arrested on July 30. She was charged with high treason, spying for Armenia, illegal business activities, documents forgery, and fraud.

Her husband, Arif Yunus, 59, was also reportedly arrested on August 5, charged with treason and fraud, and put under police surveilance.

Amnesty called for the couple to be "immediately and unconditionally" released and for Leyla Yunus to be given urgent medical treatment.

A Belarusian court on August 12 convicted human rights defender Andrey Bandarenka on charges of hooliganism and assault and sentenced him to three years in prison.

Bandarenka is accused of assaulting people in three different incidents. He denies the charges.

He is the leader of Platform Innovation, a group involved in defending the rights of inmates in Belarusian prisons.

Bandarenka, 41, has been in police custody since his arrest in Minsk in April. His trial began in July.