WASHINGTON, DC, December 9, 2015 — Today, Leyla Yunus, the 2015 Battle of Crete Award recipient and jailed Azerbaijani human rights activist, was released from prison and transferred to home confinement for medical treatment. Yunus had been in desperate need of medications that were being withheld by her captors. In addition, the appeals court in the capital Baku changed her prison term into a suspended sentence.

Human rights experts in Washington are attributing this release, as well as the recent release of her husband Arif Yunus, to the exposure they received before high-level American policymakers because of the Washington Oxi Day Foundation’s black tie dinner at the US Institute of Peace on October 28. Ms. Yunus, the founder and director of Azerbaijan’s Institute for Peace and Democracy, was imprisoned as part of Azerbaijan’s crackdown on civil society and free press, along with her journalist husband, on July 30 and August 5, 2014, respectively.

At the October 28 Oxi Day Foundation black tie gala, world-renowned musician and humanitarian Bono introduced Ms. Yunus via video and House Democratic Leader, Nancy Pelosi, presented the Battle of Crete Award to the Yunus’ daughter, Dinara Yunus, who traveled to Washington from Amsterdam to advocate for her mother and father. During her stay, Dinara met with numerous American officials and detailed the plight of her parents.

On November 21, The Washington Post published an editorial that quoted Dinara and concluded, “What’s called for is nothing short of unconditional and immediate freedom for Ms. Yunus and the remaining political prisoners.”

Dinara Yunus receives the Battle of Crete Award on behalf of her mother from House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Foundation Founder and President Andy Manatos

Bono introduces Leyla Yunus via video

• To see a video of this Award presentation, please click here.
• To see Bono’s introductory remarks, please click here.
• To see pictures from the gala, please click here.
• To see videos and pictures from all of the 2015 Oxi Day Foundation events, please click here.

2014 Battle of Crete Award Recipient:

One of Forbes’ 10 most influential in the world and “the soul of Ukraine’s resistance,” Ruslana Lyzhychko

To see video and pictures from this presentation, please click here.

Ruslana Lyzhychko

Ruslana Lyzhychko receives the Battle of Crete Award from Foundation Advisory Board Member Jim Chanos

2013 Battle of Crete Award Recipient:

Head of Cuba’s Ladies in White, who bravely protest Castro’s repressive policies, Berta Soler

To see pictures and video from this presentation, please click here.

Berta Soler and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi

Berta Soler and John Githongo

2012 Battle of Crete Award Recipient:

One of Pakistan’s most prominent advocates for women’s rights, Dr. Fouzia Saeed

To see pictures and video from this presentation, please click here.

The first US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Melanne Verveer with Dr. Fouzia Saeed

2011 Battle of Crete Award Recipient:

Burmese opposition leader and Nobel Laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi

To see video from this presentation, please click here.

Aung San Suu Kyi