BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

11/04/2006

Freelance reporter freed from Belarus

A young freelance journalist from Canada has been freed from a Belarus jail after being detained without trial by state authorities.

Acting on orders from President Lukashenko, police arrested 22-year-old Frederick Lavoie fifteen days ago during riots in the capital city of Minsk.

Alongside a hoard of other journalists, Lavoie was imprisoned on charges of 'hooliganism' and covering a protest deemed illegal by the newly elected President.

Since the election of March 19, Western commentators and the country's remaining independent journalists have denounced the election result, suggesting foul play in the counting of votes.

As a result, hundreds of protesters led by opposition parties took to the streets of Minsk to make their feelings known about the disputed election.

At the time, Lavoie was working in Minsk for Montreal-based Le Presse and Le Quotidien, when he and hundreds of others were rounded up and arrested for their involvement.

Following appeals from press activist Reporters Without Borders for his safe release, the Canadian embassy officially asked Belarus to free the freelance on humanitarian grounds.

On Saturday, Lavoie was escorted by two embassy officials to be deported to Canada where he will rejoin his family, who have expressed relief at their son's safe return.

Meanwhile, the Committee to Protect Journalists has deplored a law signed by President Lukashenko that makes criticism of his regime punishable by up to five years in prison.

Source:

http://www.freelanceuk.com/1655.shtml