Blogger Alexander Lapshin Extradited to Azerbaijan

By a special flight of the Azerbaijani Silk Way Business Company, late on February 7, the blogger Alexander Lapshin was brought to Baku from Minsk. Belarus extradited him at the request of Azerbaijan.

Lapshin was removed from the airport via the VIP lounge, accompanied by officers of the Azerbaijan State Security Service in camouflage uniforms and black masks. The man was in handcuffs, but smiling.

In connection with his arrival, tough security measures were taken. The area adjacent to the VIP hall of the airport was cleared from cars, while law enforcement officers prevented any video shooting.

A group of journalists from the pro-government media were allowed to shoot the blogger's withdrawal from the plane and his passage through the airport hall. Representatives of the independent media were not provided the opportunity.

Against Lapshin in Azerbaijan a criminal case was launched on articles 281.2 (public appeals directed against the state) and 318.2 (illegal crossing the state border of the Azerbaijan Republic) of the Criminal Code and he was put on the international wanted list.

He illegally visited the occupied territories of Azerbaijan and made appeals against the territorial integrity of the country.

At the end of 2016 Lapshin was detained in Minsk and extradited at the request of Azerbaijan.

Lapshin is a citizen of Israel, the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Israel and Russia urged Minsk not to extradite him to Baku.    -06C--