SYDNEY: Over the past week, visiting former political prisoner held captive by Azerbaijan, journalist Alexander Lapshin met with state legislators representing the people of New South Wales and Victoria, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).
On Monday 12th February 2024, Lapshin visited the Parliament of New South Wales to meet with members of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Armenia.
The meeting in NSW was facilitated by the Co-Chairs of the group, Dr Hugh McDermott MP - State Member for Prospect, and Mr Tim James MP - State Member for Willoughby, and was attended by several members of the cohort, including The Hon. Susan Carter MLC, The Hon. Chris Rath MLC, The Hon. John Ruddick MLC, and Matt Cross MP - Member for Davidson.
During the meeting, Lapshin exposed what he called ‘the real Azerbaijan’ – a brutal, corrupt petro-dictatorship that jails journalists, political dissidents and Armenians. He answered questions regarding his plight and the plight of Armenian prisoners who illegally remain in captivity.
Lapshin has also travelled to Victoria and met with local community leaders and the recently appointed Co-Chairs of the Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Armenia, Ann Marie-Hermans.
ANC-AU Executive Director, Michael Kolokossian thanked Lapshin for his courage and willingness to speak about such a traumatic experience.
“Through Mr. Lapshin’s unjust detention, we hope to expose Azerbaijan and bring further attention to the hundreds of Armenian prisoners, including civilians, prisoners of war and Artsakh government representatives illegally detained by Azerbaijan. We must continue to speak about this until all Armenian prisoners are released,” Kolokossian said.
