Lapshin to be transported to Israel in 1-2 days, says attorney

Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin’s mother is planning to depart for Baku, which is the reason for delay in transporting him to Israel, the travel blogger’s attorney told APA.

“His mother, Bella Lapshina, wants to come here, therefore we must wait. Lapshin will be sent to Israel in 1-2 days”, the attorney said.

He also said that Lapshin is in normal condition after his attempted suicide.

Alexander Lapshin has been released from jail in Azerbaijan after the country’s president pardoned him yesterday.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev pardoned Alexander Lapshin on September 11.

The executive order of pardoning the jailed blogger was effective immediately.

The tourism blogger was detained in Belarus in 2016 upon Azerbaijan’s request. Azerbaijan had blacklisted Lapshin for his visit to Artsakh.

On February 7, 2017, Alexander Lapshin was extradited to Azerbaijan where a Baku Court sentenced him to 3 years imprisonment.

Charges included “public calls against the state” and “illegal border crossing”.

The blogger was found guilty for illegal border crossing under Article 318 – the infamous and illicit “law” which defines criminal proceedings for foreigners who visit Nagorno Karabakh “without authorization of Azerbaijan”.

It is noteworthy that Azeri President Ilham Aliyev pardoned Lapshin on same day when his defense minister Zakir Hasanov departed for Israel on an official visit.

Prior to being pardoned, the blogger attempted to commit suicide in jail.