BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

02/08/2006

Latvia accused Belarus of masterminding "porno-scandal"

Latvia accused Belarus of provocation against its diplomat in Minsk. On July 30, Belarusian State TV-Channel broadcasted footage of gay sex, claiming the Latvian diplomat was involved in "the action."

Latvian Foreign Minister Artis Pabriks stated to BBC that the video was "an unprecedented attack" on the diplomat. Also, the Latvian Foreign Ministry stated that search and requisitioning of 'pornographic materials' by Reimo Smits are serious violence of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.

By the end of the week, the Belarusian authorities stated that they searched the apartment of Latvian Embassy's second secretary. According to police, pornographic materials were found during the search. Latvia denies such accusations, stating that only video cassettes, which contained Belarusian TV news bulletins, were seized.

Latvian press asserts that the diplomat, who had got into the 'porno-scandal,' maintained contacts with opponents of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Source:

http://www.regnum.ru/english/682638.html