Amnesty International calls on Azerbaijani authorities to immediately release blogger Lapshin
Amnesty International strictly condemned the extradition of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan. The organization issued a statement which says that in Azerbaijan Lapshin is at risk of torture and other illtreatment as well as an unfair trial.
The organization calls on terminating the criminal proceedings against Lapshin and immediately releasing him. “Amnesty International takes the view that the extradition and charges against Alexander Lapshin are a means of targeting him principally in connection with his blogs, in particular his criticism of the Azerbaijani border control system and the country’s social inequality. The charge of “public appeals against the state” has no legal basis, as the criticism of the Azerbaijani authorities in his blog falls entirely within the scope of his right to freedom of expression,” the statement says.
“With regard to the criminal charge of illegal border crossing, the organization maintains that irregular entry should not be treated as a criminal offence. As such, Amnesty International considers that his detention is arbitrary and calls for the criminal proceedings against Alexander Lapshin to be terminated. He should be released immediately.”
The statement says concerns were raised regarding the conditions of Alexander Lapshin’s detention in Belarus. He is also at risk of torture and other ill-treatment while in custody in Azerbaijan. Two days after Alexander Lapshin’s arrival and detention in Baku, he has been refused permission to contact his wife.
The organization says there had been numerous cases where individuals who criticized the Azerbaijani authorities were arbitrarily arrested and sentenced to imprisonment following unfair trials.
“In extraditing Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan, where he is at risk of torture and other ill-treatment, amongst other human rights violations, the Belarusian authorities have failed to adhere to their obligations under international human rights law,” the statement reads.
