OSCE media freedom representative condemns arrests and assaults on journalists following Belarus election

VIENNA, 21 December 2010 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, today condemned detentions and assaults of Belarusian and international journalists in Minsk following the 19 December presidential election.

“Violence against the media is unacceptable. The police should assist reporters who cover public events - not beat or intimidate them, damage their equipment and imprison them. I call on authorities to immediately release all jailed journalists.”

Many journalists were detained or sentenced up to 15 days in prison and numerous reporters were injured and had their equipment damaged by the police in the Belarusian capital on 19 and 20 December.

“Although a record number of journalists were accredited to cover the elections, and their working conditions had been improved, brutal treatment of media representatives by law-enforcement agencies in the aftermath of the election shattered signs of progress,” said Mijatovic.