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“Artsakhakertum” non-governmental organization along with Artsakh Journalists Union organizes an international forum of bloggers in Stepanakert, Republic of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh Republic) on March 19-20 with around 30 bloggers from 11 states expected to attend the event.

As the organizers of the forum inform, the main topic of the discussion will be the coverage of conflicts on social media and the mechanism to guarantee the freedom of journalists and bloggers.

Famous Russian blogger Anton Nosik is among the participants of the forum as he has announced about it on his personal blog accompanied by a quote from Russian poet and essayist Osip Mandelstam. The latter was known for his affection and close bonds to ancient Armenian land of Artsakh and Armenians.

Nosik has commented on the possibility of being placed on the so-called Azerbaijani “black list” for what it claims to be an ‘illegal visit’, saying he does not care much about that.

“Azerbaijani existence as a sovereign state is a historic mistake and an embarrassment,” the blogger wrote.  

The organization of the forum comes a month after the extradition of Russian-Israeli blogger Alexander Lapshin from Belarus to Azerbaijan. Lapshin was wanted by Azerbaijan after visiting the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) and criticizing the Azerbaijani leadership.

Azerbaijani prosecutors launched a criminal case into "repeated public anti-state calls" and "illegal crossing of Azerbaijan’s state border," punishable with a prison term of five to eight years.

The extradition and persecution against Lapshin was widely slammed as a gross violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of speech and movement.