Headline changed, details added (first version posted on 18:20)
Baku, Azerbaijan, July 28
By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend:
The trial on a criminal case launched with regard to the director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy Leyla Yunusova and her husband Arif Yunusov continued on July 28 in the Baku Court of Grave Crimes.
The testimony of witnesses was heard at the trial chaired by Afghan Hajiyev.
Witness Adela Manafova said that she was one of the founders of "Azerbaijani women for peace and democracy in the Caucasus" NGO, participated in the organization's activities for around three years, after which she was not involved in its activities. In addition, she did not have any information about adopting a decision on electing Leyla Yunusova deputy chairman, as well as about the receipt and spending of grants.
Another witness Zemfira Ismayilova said in her testimony that according to the documents, she was also the founder of "Azerbaijani women for peace and democracy in the Caucasus" NGO.
However, she did not have any information about adopting a decision on electing Leyla Yunusova deputy chairman, as well as about the receipt and spending of grants. Ismayilova said that the signature put in the document on the establishment of the Institute for Peace and Democracy on her behalf is fake.
The taxi driver Ilgar Aghayev, who was the unofficial driver of the Yunusovs, said during the trial that for his services he was getting 300-350 Azerbaijani manats monthly, but no contract was signed with him.
Then the testimony of Rauf Mirkadirov's former spouse Zarifa Hajiyeva was heard. Mirkadirov is under investigation. She said that she divorced with Mirkadirov four years ago.
Hajiyeva said that before the divorce she witnessed frequent telephone conversations between Leyla Yunusova and Mirkadirov. She said that Yunusova and Mirkadirov often visited Armenia in different ways.
During the trial, despite the warnings of the court made on the basis of a protest of the public prosecutor and a representative of the sufferer on ensuring discipline at the hearing, Leyla Yunusova resorted to unethical behavior and once again insulted Shohlat Allahmanov, representative of the sufferer. Leyla Yunusova continued to behave this way ignoring the warning.
Then, a break was announced at the trial.
The trial will continue August 3.
Leyla Yunusova is charged under the articles 274 (high treason), 178.3.2 (fraud (by causing major damage)), 192.2.2 (illegal entrepreneurship), 213.2.2 (tax evasion in a large amount), 320.1 (falsification of the certificate or other official document providing rights or exempting from duties in order to use or sell this document, as well as for the same purposes to work out or sell forged state awards of Azerbaijan Republic, stamps, seals, forms) and 320.2 (use of deliberately forged documents indicated in the Article 320.1 of the present Code) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan.
Arif Yunusov is charged under the articles 274 (high treason) and 178.3.2 (fraud) of Azerbaijan's Criminal Code.