TEL AVIV, Israel (A.W.)—Israel has proposed that Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin held in Belarus apologize in writing to Azerbaijan, in exchange for Baku to revoke its request to extradite him, according to a senior Israeli official.
Lapshin has been in custody in Belarus since mid-December for his visits to Nagorno-Karabagh (NKR/Artsakh) and posts criticizing the Azerbaijani government.
The idea that Lapshin write an apology letter was first brought up several weeks ago in talks between Member of Parliament Ksenia Svetlova (Zionist Union)—who is helping Lapshin’s family—and Azerbaijani officials. Azerbaijani officials said that they would agree to an apology letter, but would not retract their demand to extradite Lapshin. They added that it was a matter of principle and would only release Lapshin if he was extradited to their country.
On Jan. 17, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov opposed Lapshin’s extradition during a press conference. According to Israeli senior officials, this was “dramatic development that could lead to a breakthrough in the efforts to release Lapshin.”
In his response, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov explained that Lapshin had broken Azerbaijani law and the extradition request was the appropriate response.
“I believe the Russian law enforcement authorities would have taken similar steps in regard to a man who carried out similar offenses toward Russia and crossed the border illegally,” he said.
On Jan. 16, the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF) of Armenia and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) “Nigol Aghpalian” Student Association held a protest at the Embassy of Belarus in Yerevan , calling on Belarussian authorities to fairly and objectively approach the detainment of blogger Alexander Lapshin and to not give in to the demands of Azerbaijan.
I like this because it makes Azerbaijan looks idiotic.
But why Lapshin?
There are hundreds if not thousands of Europeans who have travelled to Artsakh yet Azerbaijan has not asked for their extradition.
Well, that’s Aliyev and Azerbaijan for you: they’re crazy. As crazy as Erdogan and Turkey.
And the Armenians of Artsakh are supposed to live under the rule of these Azeri nutjobs?
Lol, Azeke playing nounsence comedy proving their worthlessness in front of world.
Probably they don’t have enough innocent intelligence in their prison.
The country who doesn’t have an entelect to attract the world they use their unconditional fulishness to surprise the world.
They are sticky as a tar and worthless as a weed.
I expect this kind of thing from Azerbaijan. But it is outrageous that the Belarus govt is going along with this extradition. Azerbaijan has no right in my view to exercise jurisdiction over a person who is not an Azeri national and was not in Azerbaijan when arrested. How did the Azeri govt know that he was in Belarus?
Now as to Israel’s official position, you should know that Ksenia Svetlova represents an opposition party, the so-called Zionist Union. She does not officially represent our government. Maybe she is just operating on her own.
The report above mentions “Israeli senior officials” but it does not name anybody. So it makes one wonder whether there is really any official Israeli involvement.
This creates a bad precedent, people are going to be scared to visit NKR. The Armenian foreign ministry didn’t do anything at all. It’s a disgrace.
{The Armenian foreign ministry didn’t do anything at all. It’s a disgrace.}
Of course, everything that goes on in the world is always the fault of Armenian Government. If only the BarevaLoser was running things in RoA: then everything would be fine.
Alexander Lapshin is dual Israeli-Russian citizen.
Repeat Israeli citizen.
Not citizen of RoA.
In any other situation Israel would get their citizen out one way or another: they do it all the time.
But Israel and Azerbaijan and Belarus are all in one bed.
Israel wants to appease Aliyev, because Israel is selling $ billions worth of weaponry to Azerbaijan, and is currently trying to sell $ billions worth of Israeli Iron Dome. So Israel is sacrificing their own citizen.
None of RoA’s or NKR’s business.
Axeri oil man has no control over Israeli decision making body, and Mr. Lapshin faith. All these showcase showdown, who created by Axeri oil man and Mr. Natanyahoo is about satisfying both Israeli and Axeri opposition elements over military and oil deal between them, like Avery said “none of RoA and Artsakh business”!