Israeli Arrested & Blackmailed by Azerbaijan!

Azerbaijan forbids travel to Armenia's Karabakh Stronghold. Lapshin, an Israeli Blogger, visited the stronghold, and sharply criticized Azerbaijan, in his blog comments. The innocent Israeli Blogger was advised to write an apology to the Government of Azerbaijan, beg for mercy, and apologize for taking the Armenian Viewpoint in his Blogs. He's been advised to apologize to Baku, Azerbaijan, under circumstances of duress.

http://armenianweekly.com/2017/01/20...shins-release/

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Israel Proposes Compromise for Lapshin’s Release (January 20,2017)

TEL AVIV, Israel, (Armenian Weekly) — Israel has proposed that Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin held in Belarus apologize in writing to Azerbaijan, in exchange for Baku to revoke its request to extradite him, according to a senior Israeli official.

Lapshin has been in custody in Belarus since mid-December for his visits to Nagorno-Karabagh (NKR/Artsakh) and posts criticizing the Azerbaijani government.

The idea that Lapshin write an apology letter was first brought up several weeks ago in talks between Member of Parliament Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union)—who is helping Lapshin’s family—and Azerbaijani officials. Azerbaijani officials said that they would agree to an apology letter, but would not retract their demand to extradite Lapshin. They added that it was a matter of principle and would only release Lapshin if he was extradited to their country.

On Jan. 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opposed Lapshin’s extradition during a press conference. According to Israeli senior officials, this was “dramatic development that could lead to a breakthrough in the efforts to release Lapshin.”

In his response, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov explained that Lapshin had broken Azerbaijani law and the extradition request was the appropriate response.

“I believe the Russian law enforcement authorities would have taken similar steps in regard to a man who carried out similar offenses toward Russia and crossed the border illegally,” he said.

On Jan. 16, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) of Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Nigol Aghpalian” Student Association held a protest at the Embassy of Belarus in Yerevan , calling on Belarussian authorities to fairly and objectively approach the detainment of blogger Alexander Lapshin and to not give in to the demands of Azerbaijan.

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http://asbarez.com/158212/baku-arres...iting-artsakh/

Baku Arrests Israeli Blogger for Visiting Artsakh
Published by Asbarez News, December 16, 2016.

"Lapshin said he would not delete anything from his blog and called the blacklist list nonsense and an anecdote."

Russian Ombudsman, Armenian MFA Criticize Lapshin Extradition Order
By Armenian Weekly Staff, on February 1, 2017

http://armenianweekly.com/2017/02/01...adition-order/

MOSCOW, Russia (A.W.)— Russian Human Rights Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova issued a statement on Jan. 31st warning the authorities in Belarus against handing of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan, RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) reported.

Russia’s constitution forbids the extradition of Russian citizens to foreign countries and as a “union state” Belarus must respect this provision, explained Moskalkova. “I have received support for my position from Russia’s Foreign Ministry and other relevant agencies,” said the top human rights official.

A court in Minsk upheld last week Belarusian prosecutors’ decision to allow his extradition to Azerbaijan. Lapshin has appealed against the ruling, according to Israel consul-general in Belarus Yulia Rachinski-Spivakov.

“Lapshin will stay in Belarus until the court makes a [final] decision on the case,” Rachinski-Spivakov told RFE/RL’s Armenian service on February 1st.

On January 31st, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian condemned the decision by the authorities in Belarus to arrest and extradite Lapshin and called it a “disgrace.”

Nalbandian told a reporters during a press conference that he was not sure who has what to gain from the extradition. “I’m sure that it won’t add to anyone’s reputation. It’s quite the opposite,” he added.

Last week, Armenia’s Human Rights Ombudsman, Arman Tatoyan, strongly condemned Belarusian authorities when he met with a senior Council of Europe official in Strasbourg.

In early January, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed concern and opposed the decision by the authorities in Belarus while the New York based Committee to Protect Journalists demanded the blogger’s release on a statement made on January 13st.

Lapshin, who was arrested for his trips to Nagorno Karabagh (NKR/Artsakh) in the past and his criticism of Azerbaijan, has been detained since mid-December.

Breaking: Lapshin Extradited, Detained in Baku
Published on 7 February, 2017, by Armenian Weekly Staff.

http://armenianweekly.com/2017/02/07...ained-in-baku/

BAKU, Azerbaijan (A.W.)—Images of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin being detained in Baku were released by the Interfax news agency just hours after news broke out that the Supreme Court of Belarus rejected his appeal and upheld the decision of the Prosecutor General’s office to extradite him to Azerbaijan.

Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh/NKR) Ombudsman Ruben Melikyan was quick to condemn the decision to extradite Lapshin. “Demonstrative prosecution of Lapshin is an attack [on] free speech and freedom of movement. Should be condemned in the strongest terms,” Melikyan tweeted.

Lapshin faces criminal prosecution in Azerbaijan for “illegal border crossing” and “public calls against the country.” Following the Supreme Court decision, Nagorno-Karabagh President Spokesperson Davit Babayan said that Lapshin’s extradition is a “challenge” to Israel.

“The decision causes serious damage to the credibility of the country,” Babayan told reporters on Feb. 7, adding, “We deem the decision of Belarus as scandalous, disgraceful, and illegal.”

Babayan said that he is confident that the people of Belarus do not support the decision and believes that Israel should suspend cooperation with Azerbaijan, especially since the life of Lapshin will be under serious threat in Azerbaijani prison.

The Armenian Weekly will be closely following the story and providing further details as they become available.

Suspicious circumstances of "a dirty deal" surround the extradition of Russian Israeli Blogger, from Belarus into the hands of Azerbaijan's thugs. The blogger was acutely critical of Baku, Azerbaijan. He was arrested because of his critical blogs, as well as his travel to Armenia's Karabakh Stronghold. The Russian Israeli Blogger is already showing signs of a mental breakdown, while in the custody of Azerbaijan's fascist thugs.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/87781...arliament.html

"Amnesty International Calls on Azerbaijani Authorities to Immediately Release Blogger Lapshin"
Published on 12 February, 2017, by ArmenPress.

https://armenpress.am/eng/news/87843...r-lapshin.html

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YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 12TH, ARMENPRESS. Amnesty International strictly condemned the extradition of Russian-Israeli Blogger Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan, reports ArmenPress.

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Amnesty International issued a statement of concern, and urges for Lapshin's immediate release: "Amnesty International takes the view that the extradition and charges against Alexander Lapshin are a means of targeting him principally in connection with his blogs, particularly his criticism of the Azerbaijani border control system and the country's social inequality. The charge of 'public appeals against the state' has no legal basis, as the criticism of the Azerbaijani Authorities in his blog falls entirely within the scope of his right to freedom of expression. With regard to the criminal charge of illegal border crossing the organization maintains that irregular entry should not be treated as a criminal offense. As such, Amnesty International considers that his detention is arbitrary and calls for the criminal proceedings against Alexander Lapshin to be terminated. He should be released immediately."

Amnesty International raised concerns about Alexander Lapshin's detention in Belarus, as well as the impending spectacle of prison horrors, torture, and egregious standards of justice in Baku, Azerbaijan. It's a well founded condemnation: "in extraditing Lapshin to Azerbaijan, where he is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment, amongst other human rights violations, the Belorussian Authorities have failed to adhere to their obligations under international human rights laws."