Azeri authorities report Lapshin’s suicide attempt

Alexander Lapshin’s pardoning has been long considered, but the decision was made after the blogger committed a suicide attempt, Ali Gasanov, an assistant to Aerbaijani president has stated today.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that today Ilham Aliev, Azerbaijani President, signed an order to pardon Alexander Lapshin, sentenced on July 20 this year to three years in colony on charges of illegally crossing the country's border.

The issue of extraditing Lapshin to Israel after pardoning is dealt with by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Israeli Embassy in Baku, Mr Gasanov told the “AzerTaj” State News Agency.

According to his story, the issue of Lapshin’s release and extradition to Israel "had long been a topic of two countries’ discussion,” the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

"There was an agreement reached that Lapshin would be pardoned and extradited to Israel... Unfortunately, the Israeli officials protracted the procedures; and as a result yesterday [on September 10]... Lapshin attempted a suicide," said the assistant to Azerbaijani president.

Lapshin received an urgent medical care at the SIZO (pre-trial prison); and now he continues taking his treatment under doctors’ supervision, Ali Gasanov has explained.

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