OSCE Chairperson welcomes granting of asylum to Belarusian journalist
VILNIUS, 9 September 2011 – The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, today welcomed his country’s granting of asylum to Belarusian journalist Natallya Radzina.
“A free media is an essential part of a democratic society. Journalists must be able to carry out their work without fear,” said Ažubalis. “Lithuania has made media freedom, particularly the safety of journalists, one of the priorities of our OSCE Chairmanship.”
Referring to the Chairmanship’s June conference in Vilnius on the safety of journalists, he said: “We are putting our words into action, and I urge all participating States to fully implement their commitments to media freedom. We must support journalists, and all members of civil society, in the spirit of the Helsinki Final Act, who courageously stand up for their democratic rights.”
Radzina, the editor of the Charter97.org website, was granted asylum in Lithuania on 7 September.