Concern over arrest of journalist in Belarus

VIENNA, 19 June 2001 (OSCE) - Valeriy Shukin, a Belarus journalist and 13th Supreme Soviet Deputy, was incarcerated on 12 June 2001 for three months on charges of "hooliganism." He was sentenced on 15 March for a failed attempt to get into a press conference held at the Belarus Ministry of Interior. He was obstructed by the police for not having the right "permission" to attend. After exhausting the appeal process he had to report to prison to start serving his sentence.

On 18 June, Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, met with Valeriy Lipkin, the Chairman of the Human Rights, Minorities and Media Commission of the Belarus National Assembly, and raised the case of Shukin. Lipkin defended the actions of the government. However, after consulting with a number of human rights activists, Freimut Duve was not convinced that the journalist was imprisoned for "hooliganism."

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media appeals to the judicial bodies in Belarus to once again look into this case also taking into account the age of Mr. Shukin, who is 60 years old.

For further information please contact the office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, tel. + 43 1 512 21 45-0, Fax + 43 1 512 21 45-9.