February 24, in an interview with Azadliq Radiosu, Dinara Yunus, daughter of arrested Leyla and Arif Yunus announced the decision to launch Institute for Peace and Democracy Institute in Amsterdam where Ms.Yunus is based.
"I decided to register the institute [it wasn't officially registered in Azerbaijan] sometime at the end of last year. It took some time to get the paperwork done. But the registration was finally granted yesterday, February 23", said Yunus.
Institue for Peace and Democracy (IPD) was established in 1995. It functioned as non-political, non-governmental, and non-for-profit organization in Azerbaijan. This year marks 20th anniversary since the launch of the organization.
Altough the organization focused on many directions, Ms.Yunus intends to take the democracy and rights direction at this moment. "Right now I will continue my parents' work on political prisoners, continue my advocacy for immediate and unconditional release of my parents, and other political prisoners in Azerbaijan. IPD will also continue expressing its concern regarding the human rights situation in Azerbaijan in the run up to the European Olympic Games. I think it is unethical and devaluing all main principles of the games - to hold the games in the land of political prisoners."
Commenting on the case of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, Ms. Yunus said, "silent diplomacy has to stop. My parents and other political prisoners turned into the prisoners of silent diplomacy".
Both of Dinara Yunus parents were jailed a week apart in Azerbaijan last year and charged with treason among other charges. Yesterday, February 23, Arif Yunus pretrial detention period was extended by an additional five months.