08 February 2017, 13:50
Moscow, Yerevan and Stepanakert condemn extradition of Alexander Lapshin to Baku
The authorities of Russia, Armenia, and Nagorno-Karabakh are disappointed by the Belarusian authorities' decision to extradite Alexander Lapshin, a citizen of Russia, to Azerbaijan. Alexander Lapshin arrived in Baku on February 7.
The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Belarus agreed with the Azerbaijan's request to extradite Alexander Lapshin. At present, he is being kept at SIZO (pre-trial prison) of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) of Azerbaijan.
In Azerbaijan, the blogger is accused of visits to Nagorno-Karabakh and public statements in support of separatism. Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of Russia, Israel, and Ukraine.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Russia has called the decision on extradition of Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan inconsistent with the spirit of allied relations between Russia and Belarus.
Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice-Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, has called the incident shameful for the Belarusian authorities.
Naira Zograbyan, an MP from the "Prosperous Armenia" Party, has said that Armenia should withdraw its Ambassador from Belarus.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nagorno-Karabakh has accused the Belarusian authorities of disregard of the democratic norms and the principles of legality and justice.
Ruben Melikyan, Ombudsman of Nagorno-Karabakh, has claimed the Baku officials' desire to create a precedent to intimidate people who wish to visit Nagorno-Karabakh.
Activists and public figures of Armenia have urged to avoid extradition of Alexander Lapshin. They treated his case as a threat to freedom of speech.
Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.
Author: Inessa Sargsyan, Alvard Grigoryan Source: CK correspondents
