BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

11/04/2006

Journalist says he was treated well

Broadcast News

OTTAWA - A Canadian freelance journalist jailed for 15 days for covering an unauthorized demonstration in Belarus last month says he was treated well by authorities.

Frederick Lavoie says he saw Belarusian prisoners who were beaten by police, but he was not abused.

Lavoie, 22, also says Canadian officials visited him in jail, brought him food and provided much-needed moral support.

He was initially barred from contacting his family in Quebec City, but he says his jailers relented after a visit from a Canadian diplomat.

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay lodged a protest with Belarus over Lavoie's arrest.

Lavoie says he won't be returning to Belarus any time soon because he's been banned from the country for three years.

Source:

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=85be96ab-8d85-41b2-a0c8-044860654eb4&k=88460

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