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"By arresting journalists Rauf Mirkadirov on charges of espionage and by launching an attack on us, the Azerbaijani authorities are trying to put an end to the participation of independent people in people’s diplomacy," during the online press conference stated Leyla Yunus, the director of the Azerbaijani Institute of Peace and Democracy.

Yunus gave an affirmative answer to the question posed by the Panorama.am portal, whether there is any chance that in the framework of people’s diplomacy the Azerbaijani side will continue to present not the human rights activists and representatives of the civil society, but specially trained people who are directly coordinating their activities with the government.

"Azerbaijani authorities seek to ensure that in this area worked people that are only under their control," stated the human rights activist, adding that she can already see this process.

Commenting on the question of Panorama.am about what the true motives of Rauf Mirkadirov’s arrest are and how the things around this case develop, Yunus noted that no investigation is being conducted.

"Unfortunately, people work here as the NKVD used to in 1937th. They organized an infamous search in Rauf Mirkadirov’s parents’ home, and his father broke down and died on the night of the 24th of May. Rauf was not even allowed to stay with his mother; he was releasing for almost half an hour. This is Yezhov’s and Beria’s method, the Nazis method," she said. According to her Rauf Mirkadirov’s father was actually killed.

Yunus stated that there is absolute legal arbitrariness in Azerbaijan, and it's not just about the law enforcement units. "For example, we cannot continue Arif’s (Yunusov - Ed.) treatment, as the bank, where he has a personal account, refuses to give us the money," said the human rights activist.

Yunus believes that a certain pro-Russian group that exists among the Azerbaijani authorities is standing behind the tightening repressions against the opposition and civil society activists in Azerbaijan. According to her, that’s why the activists connected with the U.S. and European countries are being persecuted. According to the human rights activist, neither the U.S. nor Europe do not fully realize that the policy of encouraging the authoritarian regime of Azerbaijan can lead to terrible consequences.

Yunus noted that although the prosecution over her IPD is not a new phenomenon, however now it has worsened for several reasons. Firstly, the authorities of Azerbaijan want to take under their control any independent civic initiative. In particular, the joint website www.publicdialogues.info irritates them; here the people of Armenia and Azerbaijan exchange views.

Secondly, according to Yunus, at present the most acute problem in Azerbaijan is the problem of political prisoners, and the Institute for Peace and Democracy prepares the most comprehensive list of political prisoners in the country. "We have 12 journalists and bloggers -" prisoners of conscience", we practically have no freedom of assembly," she said. According to her, they live in occupancy of the criminal, corrupt regime.

Human rights activist stressed that the international human rights organizations make statements saying that they are "concerned" and "do not believe in the fairness of the decision" only after the person has been sentenced. "In regard with Rauf’s (Mirkadirov) case I have not yet heard any harsh statements from the international organizations," she said.

Speaking about the role of the people’s diplomacy Yunus noted that although the conclusion of peace treaties is the prerogative of the authorities, the public should have an idea of what is happening. "The process of zombieing the citizens of the countries that are in conflict is a dangerous phenomenon. This is a road to nowhere. People’s diplomacy provides with an opportunity for an exchange of information between the two societies," she said.

Commenting on the probability of resumption of hostilities in the conflict zone, the human rights activist said that she doesn’t see such prospects. "Military rhetoric has long been present among our leaders. Authoritarian regimes always need an external enemy. I think the status quo that now exists, quite satisfies the leaders of both countries – Armenia and Azerbaijan," she noted.

Speaking about the anti-Armenian sentiments in Azerbaijan, Yunus pointed out that since 1994 there is terrible incitement of hatred in Azerbaijan towards the neighboring country. "Even in school textbooks the Armenian people are accused in of all the horrors. For example, it appears that the Muslims were divided into Sunnis and Christians Shiites, and in particular - the Armenians," she said, adding that it is unacceptable to educate the younger generation in that way.

Video version of the online press conference with Leila Yunus can be viewed at:

http://bambuser.com/v/4672955
http://bambuser.com/v/4673020
http://bambuser.com/v/4673040

Note that in the evening of April 28 in the airport of Baku while departing to Doha famous Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus and her husband conflictologist Arif Yunus were detained. They intended to fly to Paris, then to Brussels by the invitation of EU to participate in an international event. Leyla Yunus was taken to the Department of Grave Crimes of Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s office for questioning, where she spent 9 hours. Her husband who was detained with her was hospitalized in pre-infarction condition. Search of Yunus’ apartment and IPD office was conducted.

Note that Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Nils Muiznieks, U.S. State Department, the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan and human rights organizations, such as the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House and the International Federation of Human Rights Organizations (FIDH) have condemned the detention of human rights activist Leyla Yunus in Baku.