Dunja Mijatović reflects to Arman Tatoyan’s letter on Alexander Lapshin’s case

The Human Rights Defender of Armenia has launched active works with international human rights organizations and other partners following the publication of details on Alexander Lapshin’s arrest in Minsk.

The press service of the Office of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia informed that OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović presented her position on Lapshin’s case by an official letter addressed to the Human Rights Defender Arman Tatoyan.

Mijatović particularly informed that she has been following the case of the arrest of Russian blogger and journalist Alexander Lapshin since his arrest in Minsk on December 15, 2016. According to Dunja Mijatović, she is fully informed that Lapshin will face severe punishment in Azerbaijan in case of being extradited by Belarusian authorities.

Hence, she has applied to the Permanent Mission of Belarus to the OSCE several times, as well as has sent a letter to the Foreign Minister of Belarus expressing her concerns over the fact that in case of extradition Lapshin will face unfair treatment as a revenge for his journalistic activities and for expressing opinions, including over key human rights issues resulted by Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

Dunja Mijatović assured the Human Rights Defender of Armenia that she has called on the authorities of Belarus to pay special attention to that case so that Lapshin’s legitimate journalistic activities are not limited. She also assured that will keep a watchful eye on the future developments of this case.