The Baku Court of Appeal on Wednesday resumed the hearing on the appeal filed in connection with the verdict against Leyla Yunus and her husband Arif Yunus.

At the hearing presided over by judge Vuqar Mammadov, attorneys called for acquittal of Leyla and Arif Yunus.

The public prosecutor asked the court for rejection of the appeal.

The judges then paused for pondering and agreed upon the decision that there is lack of grounds for her acquittal. However, they noted that the verdict against them had to be changed.

Because the term prescribed in Article 320 of the Criminal Code with which she is charged has expired, the penalties stipulated in that article has been excluded from the verdict.

8.5-year imprisonment Leyla Yunus is sentenced to was declared conditional, with five years of probation. Her pretrial detention was annulled and she was released from the court room.

At the same time, Arif Yunus’ seven-year imprisonment term was declared conditional, with five years of probation.

The court also cancelled the decision on seizing a house owned by Dinara Yunus, the daughter of Leyla and Arif Yunus.

Note that, Leyla Yunus is charged under articles #274 (treason), 178.3.2 (fraud with causing damage in the large size), 192.2.2 (illegal business with extraction of income in the large size), 213.2.2 (tax evasion with causing damage in large amount), 320.1 (Fake of certificate or other official document giving the rights or releasing from duties, with a view of its use or selling of such document, as well as manufacturing in same purposes or selling of counterfeit state awards of the Azerbaijan Republic, stamps, seals, forms) and 320.2 (use of obviously counterfeit documents provided in article 320.1) of the Criminal Code.

Both convicts’ cases of treason (Article #274) will be considered separately. The current criminal case submitted to court is associated with swindle and other cases.

On 13 August, the Baku Court on Grave Crimes sentenced Leyla Yunus 8 years and 6 months in prison and Arif Yunus to 7 years in prison. The verdict also included the seizure of their property and transferring of their funds in their bank accounts to state account.

At the hearing held on November 12, the Court of Appeal changed the pretrial detention. Arif Yunus was then released on recognizance not to leave

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