Russian embassy: Blogger Lapshin's rights fully respected
By Rashid Shirinov
The Russian Embassy in Azerbaijan has confirmed that the rights of blogger Alexander Lapshin, who is being kept at the Baku detention center, are fully respected, and he has no complaints over conditions of detention.
Blogger Lapshin will stand trial in Baku for his illegal visits to the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
“Investigative actions, prescribed by the legislation of Azerbaijan, against Alexander Lapshin continue. His protection is provided by a private lawyer hired by his family,” Russian Embassy’s press attaché Denis Apashkin told RIA Novosti on February 22.
“On February 9, Alexander was visited by the embassy representatives, who saw at first hand that his rights are respected in full. Alexander did not express any complaints on the conditions of detention," Apashkin said.
The press attaché added that the next visit of the embassy representatives will take place after obtaining permission, which has already been requested by the Russian side.
Moreover, representatives of the international Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have recently visited Lapshin in Baku. This was announced by the blogger's wife Catherine.
Besides, Lapshin has met with his mother Bella, who arrived in Baku, a source in Azerbaijan’s law enforcement agencies told Trend on February 23.
Upon arrival in Baku, Bella Lapshin signed a contract with the new lawyer to defend Alexander Lapshin’s position.
The lawyer has already met with Lapshin in the Baku detention center No.1 and inquired about the blogger's well-being and conditions of his detention.
Blogger Lapshin, who owns citizenships of several countries, illegally visited Azerbaijan`s Armenia-occupied lands and now is charged under the articles 281.2 (appeals directed against state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) articles of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. He violated Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012.
Helped by his accomplices in the occupied territories, Lapshin paid a number of visits to Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, where he voiced support for "independence" of the illegal regime, and made public calls against Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016.
In early February, Lapshin was extradited from Minsk to Baku to stand trial in Azerbaijan.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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