The Russian embassy in Azerbaijan is taking all possible measures to help blogger Alexander Lapshin.
Russia MFA: We are taking all possible measures to protect Lapshin’s rights
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 15, ARTSAKHPRESS: Official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Maria Zakharova, stated the above-said, reported TASS news agency of Russia.
“Despite the Russian position of the impermissibility of its citizens’ extradition to third countries has reached Minsk several times, Lapshin was extradited [from Belarus] to Azerbaijan, on February 7,” noted Zakharova.
In her words, however, Russia is in constant contact with Azerbaijan’s law enforcement agencies, Prosecutor General’s Office, MFA, and the Israeli embassy in this country.
“We are taking all possible measures—within our power—for the protection of the Russian citizen,” added the Russian MFA representative. “We keep this matter under constant watch, a qualified legal assistance is provided to Lapshin; a judicial clarification is ahead.”
In December 2016, Israeli Russian blogger Alexander Lapshin was detained in the Belarusian capital city of Minsk. The reason was his being on the international wanted persons’ list, due to a search which Azerbaijan had declared. Baku accuses him of visiting Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) without its consent.
And on February 7 of the current year, Belarus extradited the blogger to the Azerbaijani capital city of Baku, where he was taken into custody.
