Blogger Lapshin’s trial postponed to July 6

By Rashid Shirinov

A trial on blogger Alexander Lapshin, detained in Azerbaijan, was held in the Baku Grave Crimes Court on July 3.

Two witnesses gave testimony at the trial presided over by Judge Alovsat Abbasov. Due to the absence of three other witnesses, the trial was postponed to July 6.

On the first day of the trial, held on June 30, Lapshin pleaded not guilty. He answered the questions and admitted that he visited the occupied Azerbaijani territories twice.

The blogger illegally visited Azerbaijan’s Armenia-occupied lands and now is charged under the articles 281.2 (appeals directed against state) and 318.2 (illegal border crossing) of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan. He violated Azerbaijani laws on state border in April 2011 and October 2012.

Helped by his accomplices in the occupied territories, Lapshin paid a number of visits to Azerbaijan`s occupied lands, where he voiced support for "independence" of the illegal regime, and made public calls against Azerbaijan`s internationally recognized territorial integrity on April 6 and June 29, 2016.