16:45, 24 July 2017

Defence calls Alexander Lapshin's extradition impossible before decision on his appeal

Alexander Lapshin (in the centre) in the Baku airport. Photo: Sputnik / Murad Orujov

The extradition of blogger Alexander Lapshin, sentenced for illegal crossing of the Azerbaijani border, will become possible after the court's decision comes into force. Alexander Lapshin has not yet decided whether he will appeal against the verdict. This reported by advocate Eduard Chernin.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on July 20, the Baku court sentenced Alexander Lapshin to three years of imprisonment in a common-security penal colony. He was also accused of calls against Azerbaijan, but the court found that charge unproven.

Meanwhile, Alexander Lapshin is being kept in the Baku SIZO (pre-trial prison) and the question of his extradition is not on the agenda, since the court's decision has not yet entered into legal force, the advocate reported.

Alexander Lapshin is a citizen of Russia, Ukraine, and Israel. In Azerbaijan, the criminal proceedings were instituted against Alexander Lapshin in connection with his visits to Nagorno-Karabakh. The blogger may count on his extradition to Russia or Ukraine, but not to Israel, since Azerbaijan does not have an appropriate agreement with the country, the advocate stated.

On July 21, the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) expressed its willingness to initiate the extradition of Alexander Lapshin upon request, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIA) reported that they will continue to defend the blogger's rights.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.