Mijatović responds to Armenian Ombudsman over Lapshin’s case
In an official letter addressed to Armenian Human Rights Defender (Ombudsman) Arman Tatoyan, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatović, presented her position on Lapshin’s case. Mijatović said in part that ‘she has been following the case of the arrest of Russian blog writer and journalist Alexander Lapshin since his arrest in Minsk on December 15, 2016.’ The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media said she is fully informed that Lapshin will face severe punishment in Azerbaijan in case of being extradited by Belarusian authorities. 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 and 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 revenge for his journalistic activities and opinions, including key human rights issues related to the Karabakh conflict. Dunja Mijatović assured the Armenian Ombudsman 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 said she would keep a watchful eye on the developments of this case.
