YEREVAN. - An extended discussion on the arrest and possible extradition of the well-known blogger Alexander Lapshin to Azerbaijan took place in the Public Council of Armenia on Tuesday.

The meeting was also attended by media expert Samvel Martirosyan and blogger Tigran Kocharyan. As a result of the discussion, an open letter was written to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, which was submitted to the Belarusian Embassy in Armenia.

The letter notes, in particular, that the Karabakh conflict is not the issue of Azerbaijan and Armenia, but a regional matter. This is an issue of significant global security, for the peaceful settlement of which relevant efforts are exerted by the international community. “But parallel with these processes, not only the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, but also the representatives of various NGOs, private persons, state and political figures visit  Yerevan, Stepanakert and Baku, trying to find a way of normalizing this issue.  From this perspective, the arrest of Alexander Lapshin and his possible extradition to Azerbaijan raises concerns,” the letter reads.

It is also mentioned that Azerbaijan has declared 180 journalists personae non grata merely for visiting Karabakh. According to the updated data of the Azerbaijani MFA, as of 7 December 2016, the “black list”already includes 623 people, including French FM Bruno Le Roux and renowned singer Montserrat Caballé. “This is indicative of how Azerbaijan sees the establishment of solidarity between the peoples. We consider it necessary to note that this list also includes five citizens of Belarus. Lapshin’s extradition to Azerbaijan will be assessed as a grave violation of human rights and freedoms. We are confident that Belarus will remain loyal to its balanced policy peculiar to it, being guided by the international principles and not make a decision on Lapshin’s extradition to Baku,” the letter reads.