Leyla Yunus complains about increased pressure

Leyla Yunus, a rights defender arrested in Azerbaijan, complains that the pressure imposed on her by her cellmates has increased after the visit to the SIZO (pre-trial prison) of the delegation of the Ombudsman's Office.

Her advocate Alaif Gasanov, who visited Leyla Yunus on September 3, stated that the rights defender complained about pressure from the cellmates and warders. Besides, she reported that she received no medical assistance and that she suspected a preparation of a provocation to place her in the punishment cell.

On September 15, Alaif Gasanov again visited Leyla Yunus in the Baku SIZO No. 1 in the village of Kyurdakhany. After his visit to the SIZO, the advocate has claimed that the rights defender is "being kept in intolerable conditions." According to the advocate, two cellmates constantly smoke "and thus exacerbate the suffering of the rights defender, who even without that already suffers from lack of air." Besides, they endlessly praise the Azerbaijani authorities and "teach" Leyla Yunus.

On September 19, the press office of the Ombudsman's Office reported on the inspection at the Baku SIZO No. 1 conducted by members of the National Preventive Group (NPG) against Torture at the Ombudsman's Office. Following the inspection, the Ombudsman's Office found no violation of the rights of Leyla Yunus.

However, on September 21, the opposition newspaper "Azadlyg" published an open letter written by Leyla Yunus, in which the rights defender claimed that after the visit of the staff members of the Ombudsman's Office, the pressure on her had increased even more.

Officials from the Penitentiary Service of Azerbaijan continue denying any violations of Leyla Yunus' rights.