Belarus diplomat called in over reporter arrest
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 22 June 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Belarus diplomat called in over reporter arrest, 22 June 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4ff6aa35a.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 22, 2012
Poland has summoned the Belarus ambassador following the arrest of a reporter working for a Polish daily.
Andrzej Poczobut was detained June 21 at his home in Hrodno on the border with Poland and accused of defaming hard-line President Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
Warsaw is demanding the immediate release of the Polish-Belarusian Poczobut who works for the Polish daily "Gazeta Wyborcza."
Warsaw said such incidents were to blame for Belarus's self-isolation and poor relations with the European Union.
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk told journalists his counterparts from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia voiced support for Warsaw's position on the arrest.
The incident comes a year after Poczobut was handed a suspended jail sentence for "defaming" Lukashenka.
Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
