Russian Foreign Ministry Urges Eynullah Fatullayev Not to Aggravate Dilgham Asgarov�s Situation, Hinting Baku Knew about Askerov�s "Visit" to Kelbajar

Moscow / 24.04.17 / Turan: The Russian Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman A. Kozhin commented on the situation surrounding the Russian citizen Alexander Lapshin arrested in Azerbaijan and the Russian citizen Dilgham Asgarov convicted in Karabakh.

Kozhin's response to the question about Moscow's measures to protect the rights of Asgarov, posted on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said: “We are touched by the unflagging attention of the Azerbaijani media to our work to protect Russian citizens. Let me assure you that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs consistently defends the legitimate interests of all Russians, regardless of their nationality.

As you know, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict area is one of those places from visiting which Russian citizens are advised to refrain. This recommendation, in particular, is posted on the consular portal of our Ministry. At the same time, we are principally against the criminalization of peaceful visits to this or that territory by journalists or private citizens as a criminal offense.

As for Dilgham Asgarov, we have to state that he (as later A. Lapshin) neglected the aforementioned recommendation of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Since the Russian authorities cannot control the movement of their citizens after their departure abroad, in this story there are "white spots" for us. So, we do not know for certain whether Baku knew of the intention of this Russian citizen to visit the conflict zone. But the fact is that after the arrest of Asgarov in Nagorno-Karabakh, we received a copy of his civil passport from the Azerbaijani authorities. Similarly, I cannot say with certainty that Asgarov was encouraged to violate the recommendation of the Russian Foreign Ministry. But after all, how did he cross the carefully guarded “line of contact”?

If the Azerbaijani media, including the notorious semi-official Internet portal Haqqin, are genuinely concerned with the fate of Asgarov, then first of all, stop the propaganda hype surrounding his case. It seriously hinders our efforts to facilitate the fate of this Russian citizen on humanitarian grounds, Kozhin said in a commentary.

* Recall that three residents of Kalbajar, Dilgham Asgarov, Shahbaz Guliyev and Hasan Hasanov crossed the front line in July 2014 and appeared in the Kelbajan region occupied by the Armenians. A few days later they were captured by the Armenians, and Hasanov was killed.

Guliyev and Asgarov were named saboteurs and charged with the murder of a teenager and an officer and sentenced - Asgarov - to life imprisonment, and Guliyev - for 22 years. They explained their visit to Kalbajar by the desire to visit their native places and the graves of their ancestors. -02D-