BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

21/12/2006

International Reporters Watchdog Condemned Minsk Over Detained Journalists

MosNews

An international reporters watchdog on Thursday condemned Belarusian authorities for detaining a journalist, the Assotiated Press news agency reported Thursday.

Alexsei Salei, an editor with the Polish-language Magazyn Polski na Uchodzistwie, was detained over hooliganism and resisting arrest. He was released Tuesday after serving a seven-day sentence following his arrest in the western Belarusian city of Grodno.

Although the journalist said the arrest was sequent of his article. The article was about a dispute between the Roman Catholic Church and the Belarusian government over the expulsion of several priests and nuns.

He also said he was likely arrested in an effort to prevent him from covering a protest about the expulsions. The protest was eventually banned by authorities.

Belarusian officials could not be immediately reached for comment.

Source:

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/12/21/detainedjournalists.shtml

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