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On August 5, Nasimi district court in Baku issued a decision on putting under 3 months arrest the head of Conflictology department at the Peace and Democracy Institute Arif Yunus, reported the Azerbaijani information agency "Turan".

On July 30, he was taken under the police supervision, and his wife, Peace and Democracy Institute director, human rights activist Leyla Yunus was arrested. According to the article the couple is charged with treason and other crimes.

As stated in the statement of the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office, the arrest of Yunus was motivated with violation of the requirements of the criminal procedural law. In particular, Yunus has repeatedly left the territory of the district where he lived without getting the permission of the police. He has met officials who are under criminal prosecution or who may be subjected to it, he has been engaged in online correspondence, gave interview to a media which provided one-sided, false information.

Prosecutor General's Office’s claims that Yunus has violated the procedure of being under police surveillance, is unfounded. Yusif Agayev, his public defender, told "Turan", commenting on court decision on arresting Yunus for three months. Agayev believes that the real reason for the conflictologist’s arrest has served the harsh reaction of international organizations and governments of series of countries in connection with the arrest of Yunus.

Currently, the spouses Arif and Leyla Yunus are both under arrest. Today, they have no more relatives in Baku to bring them food and medicine while they are in jail. In this regard, the Yunus’ family friends will ask the investigation team to allow any of them to visit them in jail and take there food. The defense is also intended to appeal the decision of the arrest of spouses, the article reads.

The Norwegian Foundation "Human Rights House" called on President of Azerbaijan to release the human rights activists. "Mr. President, we, the undersigned members and partners of Human Rights House Foundation (HRHN) and the network of the human rights activists of the South Caucasus urge the Azerbaijani authorities in your face to release Leyla Yunus, Arif Yunus and Rasul Jafarov immediately and unconditionally, as well as to abolish all the charges against them. We also urge you to put an end to harassment, attacks and detention of human rights defenders, journalists and activists. We urge you to take action to ensure their safety and protection, as well as the formation of a secure environment for them in accordance with international obligations and grantees of Azerbaijan, in particular, as the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe," read the letter addressed to the President of Azerbaijan, published on the website of the organization.

Human rights activist Leyla Yunus was arrested on 30 July in her house yard. She was charged with state treason, tax evasion, illegal entrepreneurship, falsification of documents and large-scale fraud. Charges of state treason and large-scale fraud were also brought against her husband Arif Yunusov. Based on these charges the court arrested Yunus for three months.

Yesterday Leyla Yunus’ arrest was condemned by such international organizations as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Human Rights House.