Jailed Azerbaijani Activist's Health Deteriorating, Lawyer Says

By RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service

November 24, 2014

BAKU -- A lawyer for jailed Azerbaijani human rights activist Leyla Yunus says her health has deteriorated drastically.

Lawyer Elcin Qambarov told RFE/RL on November 24 that a detention center doctor who examined Yunus recently gave her a diagnosis of advanced liver disease and a high blood-sugar level.

Qambarov said that Yunus's blood pressure fluctuates dramatically and that she has lost 10 kilograms since her arrest in July.

He said the detention center had refused to process her lawyers' request for access to official documents related to her medical examination.

Yunus, 58, is a fierce critic of Azerbaijan's poor rights record.

Her husband, Arif Yunus, 59, was arrested in August, and they are being held in pretrial detention on charges of high treason and other crimes.

Yunus and her husband say the charges are politically motivated.

Western governments and human rights groups have called for their immediate release.