Statement by the Spokesperson of the Secretary General on searches and arrests in Belarusian media

We have been informed about search­es and arrests in a num­ber of most promi­nent Belaru­sian media. This infor­ma­tion is of great con­cern for the Coun­cil of Europe. More­over, some of those con­cerned are our long-stand­ing part­ners well known as high-lev­el pro­fes­sion­als. Leg­is­la­tion must be respect­ed but inves­ti­ga­tions do not always require arrests which should be used as an ulti­mate tool.

We there­fore call on the Belaru­sian inves­tiga­tive author­i­ties to ensure rapid and trans­par­ent inves­ti­ga­tion. We also call for lib­er­at­ing all the arrest­ed jour­nal­ists. Free­dom of media is one of the most impor­tant human rights in a demo­c­ra­t­ic soci­ety. It should be thor­ough­ly respect­ed every­where in Europe.

Daniel Hölt­gen, Spokesper­son of the Sec­re­tary Gen­er­al