Azerbaijan to Pay Lapshin 30,000 Euros Through Artsakhbank

Blog columnist Alexander Lapshin, who is back in Artsakh after 10 years, wrote on his Facebook page that following the Azerbaijan authorities' loss in the European Court of Human Rights, they are to pay him 30,000 euros through Artsakhbank.

Lapshin noted that Azerbaijan, which has occupied most of Artsakh, requires foreign guests to obtain permission from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to visit the region. “I wrote two letters to Azerbaijan's MFA – one from the U.S. and the second from France, but I have not received any responses. They are asking for permission from foreigners but are not responding to them, which means they do not respect their own law,” emphasized the blogger, adding that he is expecting 30,000 euros from Baku.

According to him, it is significant that Azerbaijan has been recognized as a criminal state under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev due to attempts on the blogger's life. Lapshin pointed out that surveillance cameras have been installed by Azerbaijani military personnel in certain areas of Artsakh. They are gathering statistical information regarding the number of vehicles entering and leaving, calculating those who have entered and departed. The corridor is monitored by Russian peacekeepers. Lapshin advised to turn off mobile phones when passing through the corridor.

“Exactly 10 years after visiting Artsakh, 5 years after my illegal detention in Minsk at Azerbaijan's request, 4 years after the assassination attempt against me in a Baku prison, and 6 months after a crushing victory against Aliyev's regime in Strasbourg, I am once again in Stepanakert,” wrote the blogger.