BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

14/03/2006

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry circulated statement on Monday

The statement expressed deep concern over the Belarussian authority's move to arrest six Ukrainian nationals in Minsk on March 12, who attended a rally of one of the candidates for the presidency.

Also, the forcible termination of a TV report from Minsk by Channel 5 journalists was mentioned. As the statement says, the Ukrainian detainees were denied the right to meet with Ukrainian Embassy staffers, which contradicts Article 36 of the Vienna Consular Convention of April 24, 1963. The statement urges the Belarussian authorities to promptly release the Ukrainian citizens. It also calls upon the Belarussian authorities to respect political and human rights and secure conditions for unhampered media coverage of the election campaign in Belarus.

Source:

http://www.nrcu.gov.ua/index.php?id=148&listid=26088