BAKU: Armenian journalist defends Leyla Yunus

Azeri-Press news agency (APA). Azerbaijan
November 28, 2014 Friday

Armenian journalist defends Leyla Yunus

Laura Baghdasaryan, one of the famous journalists of Armenia,
expressed concern over the reports about health problems of the
imprisoned human rights defender Leyla Yunus.

According to the Armenian media outlets, Baghdasaryan, in an open
letter, condemned the persecution of her 58yearold colleague.

Baghdasarian told RFE/RL she had chosen not to speak out for quite a
long time as she feared that support and sympathy from Yerevan would
only aggravate the situation of Yunus.

Leyla Yunus faced charges under articles #274, 178.3.2, 192.2.2
(illegal business), and her husband Arif Yunus 213.2.2 (evasion from
payment of taxes), 320.2 (falsification of official documents), #274
(state betray) and 178.3.2(fraud) of the Criminal Code.

On July 30, Leyla Yunus was sentenced to pretrial detention.