[ 14 August 2015 13:39 ]
Baku – APA. “We urge the U.S. Department of State to respect the judgment on Leyla and Arif Yunus passed by the court of first instance on August 13, 2015 and independence of the judiciary,” spokesman for Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Hikmet Hajiyev said while commenting on the statements of the U.S. Department of State regarding the judgment on Leyla and Arif Yunus, APA reports.
“No one is persecuted for his professional activities and political views in Azerbaijan. All are equal before the law and being human rights defender doesn’t exempt anyone from criminal responsibility. The hearing’s being held openly and in a free environment was fully ensured and it was watched by the officials of international organizations and foreign embassies accredited in Azerbaijan. Leyla Yunus, along with the local medical services, was under examination and treatment of doctor from the famous German Clinic Charite, Professor Christian Witt and his team of doctors since December, 2014 under the request of the European Union”, he stressed.
H. Hajiyev mentioned that Azerbaijan, the supporter of the constructive dialogue between the people as part of the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, has repeatedly proposed the establishment of contacts between the Azerbaijani and Armenian communities in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. According to him, the U.S., as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chair, is aware of it. “Protection of rights and interests of citizens, ensuring the rule of law, fundamental rights and freedoms under Azerbaijan's constitution, laws and international legal documents are the high goal of the Azerbaijani government,” he said.
