Russian prize winner Andrei Babitsky facing official obstacles in attending OSCE Parliamentary Assembly ceremony in Bucharest

COPENHAGEN, 28 June 2000 - President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Mrs Helle Degn, regrets that the Russian authorities are refusing to allow Mr. Andrei Babitsky, winner of this years' OSCE Prize for Journalism and Democracy, to personally receive the Prize at the 9th Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in Bucharest from 6-10 July 2000.

To this date Mr. Babitsky was refused the necessary travel documents that would enable him to accept the invitation of the Assembly to come to Bucharest. Therefore Mr. Babitsky has now requested to be represented in Bucharest by his wife, Mrs. Ludmila Aleksandrovna Babitskaya. The special prize-ceremony will take place on Thursday, 6 July at the Romanian Parliament in Bucharest, during which Mrs. Babitsky will deliver a message from her husband.

Since 1996 the Prize has been awarded annually by the Assembly to journalists who, through their work, have promoted OSCE principles on human rights and democracy. Andrei Babitsky, reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, has reported on the conflict in Chechnya, and has been one of the very few critical voices commenting on the situation and recent developments in the region.

The Prize has previously been awarded to Mr. Adam Michnik in 1996, "Reporters sans Frontières" in 1997, Mr. Timothy Garton Ash in 1998 and Ms. Christiane Amanpour in 1999.

For further information please contact Mr. Jan Jooren, Press Counsellor of the OSCE PA, e-mail press.counsellor@oscepa.dk , tel. +45 33378040, fax. +45 33378030.