I have many questions to address to Lukashenko - Vladimir Solovyov refers to Lapshin’s extradition to Azerbaijan
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YEREVAN, MARCH 6, ARMENPRESS. The entire story of the extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin by Belarus to Azerbaijan is disgusting, “Armenpress” reports Russian TV host and public figure Vladimir Solovyov told the reporters on March 6.
“I cannot imagine how that guy could be extradited. It's amazing. In the end, all of us should be extradited. If he is accused of only having visited Artsakh and if it’s enough for Belarus despite the complaints of the Russian MFA and Israel, than it’s just a slap”, Solovyov said.
The prominent public figure assessed all these as disgusting. “They shouldn’t have done that. There should be some respect towards international right. I understand that this is a usual Belarusian sly bargaining for some economic conditions, but I do not think these conditions should somehow impact on the fate of an individual. I have numerous questions to address to Mr. Lukashenko and the entire Belarusian leadership. Now what should we do following that. Shouldn’t any of us visit Belarus? They can detain us? It turns to be so. I have been to Artsakh many times and I didn’t do so through Azerbaijan”, Solovyov stressed.
Belarus police arrested Alexander Lapshin on December 15, 2016 in Minsk. Lapshin, a Russian and Israeli citizen, resides in Moscow and writes for the famous Russian Travel Blog. He is wanted by Azerbaijan for visiting Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) in 2011, 2012 and 2016, and criticizing Azerbaijan’s policy in his blog.
Baku demanded the extradition of Lapshin from Belarus.
Earlier it was reported that the Deputy Prosecutor General of Belarus has made a decision to uphold the request of Azerbaijan’s General Prosecutor on extraditing Citizen of Russia and Israel Alexander Lapshin, who is wanted for violating Articles 281.2 and 318.2 of Azerbaijan’s Criminal Code.
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said on February 3 : “Belarus has no grounds to not extradite Lapshin to Azerbaijan”. He said the issue will be solved based on law and international agreements.
The Russian foreign ministry said it is inadmissible to extradite Russian citizens to third countries.
Lapshin was extradited on February 7.
He faces up to 5 years imprisonment in Azerbaijan, under charges of “public calls against the state”, and “unauthorized crossing of borders”.