Belarus’ decision to hand blogger over to Azerbaijan attempt to restrict visits to Nagorno-Karabakh 

A deputy prosecutor general of Belarus has met the request by the Azerbaijani Prosecutor General’s office, agreeing to embark on the necessary procedures to hand over a recently jailed blogger to Baku.  

Azerbaijan earlier blacklisted Alexander Lapshin, a citizen of Israel and Russia, for visiting the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR). The blogger then conducted a second trip to Baku, using a Ukrainian passport as a travel document.

In his blog, he later criticized Azerbaijan, highlighting the problems encountered during the visit.

In an interview with Tert.am, NKR Human Rights Defender Ruben Melikyan said that Nagorno-Karabakh is closely following the developments and considers what is happening unacceptable.

“We are dealing with a fact of not visits to Artsakh and then to Azerbaijan after being ‘blacklisted’, but also an attempt to crush freedom of speech.  This issue must first of all be considered from this angle.” 

The ombudsman described the decision as an attempt to restrict visits to Nagorno-Karabakh by intimidating people.

“My belief is that the international community should adequately react to that. And we too, must have our contribution. We would achieve an adequate reaction in case all those specialists of international law, human rights advocates and everybody else who disapproves of violations of fundamental freedoms thought more about visiting Artsakh for the sake of this very idea. I have to repeat myself that any restriction on freedom of speech must be condemnable by the international community. The articles, over which he is facing accusations, are in direct violation of his right to express his opinion. So this has to receive an adequate reaction,” the ombudsman added.