YEREVAN, JANUARY 17, ARMENPRESS. The Public Council of Armenia prepared a letter during its January 17 discussions addressed to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko. The letter suggests that blogger Alexander Lapshin arrested in Belarus by Azerbaijan’s request should not be extradited to Azerbaijan. The Public Council plans to give the letter to the Embassy of Belarus in Armenia

As “Armenpress” was informed from the Public Council of Armenia, the letter runs as follows,

“To the President of the Republic of Belarus

Alexander Lukashenko

Your Excellency Mr. President,

The Public Council of the Republic of Armenia turns to You over the arrest and possible extradition of famous traveler-blogger Alexander Lapshin.

Karabakh conflict does not refer only to two states: Armenia and Azerbaijan. It’s an issue of regional and global importance in terms of security for the peaceful settlement of which the international community makes appropriate efforts. Not only the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs, but also various international non-governmental organizations, individuals, state and political figures visit Yerevan, Stepanakert and Baku trying to find possible option of mutual concessions. Alexander Lapshin’s arrest and the possibility of extraditing him to Azerbaijan is rather concerning particularly from this perspective.

Only the fact that Azerbaijan has declared 180 journalists “personae non grata” for visiting Nagorno Karabakh , while 623 people are already included in the “black list” revised by Azerbaijani MFA on December 7, 2016, including French Minister of Interior Bruno Le Roux and opera singer Montserrat Caballé show  Azerbaijan’s understanding of reconciliation of peoples. We find it necessary to stress that 5 Belarusian citizens are included in this list.

There is no other opinion that Lapshin’s extradition based on the grounds presented by Azerbaijan will be assessed as a gross violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms, particularly, freedom of speech and free movement.

We are convinced that Belarus will remain committed to its balanced policy in this issue and will be guided by international principles and will not take a decision of extraditing Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan.

Public Council of the Republic of Armenia

17.01.2017”.