OSCE human rights office seeks investigation of disappearances, murders in Belarus and Ukraine (09/30/01)

OSCE human rights office seeks investigation of disappearances,
murders in Belarus and Ukraine

Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe

WARSAW - The OSCE's human rights institution, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), on September 21 called for an independent investigation into the murder of Ukrainian journalist Heorhii Gongadze and the disappearances of several persons, including prominent opposition figures, in Belarus.

"I strongly appeal to the governments of Belarus and Ukraine to allow for an independent investigation of these unsolved cases," said ODIHR Director Gérard Stoudmann following a meeting with Myroslava Gongadze, the widow of Mr. Gongadze, and the wives of several disappeared Belarusian citizens that took place during the annual human rights conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe currently meeting in Warsaw.

"It is unacceptable that after so many months we still don't know anything about who was behind the murder of Mr. Gongadze and what happened to those who disappeared in Belarus," Mr. Stoudmann stated.

With its call for an independent investigation of the Gongadze case, the ODIHR is supporting similar initiatives by the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Freimut Duve, Reporters Without Borders, and the family of Mr. Gongadze.

"We took note of the expression of sympathy for the relatives expressed by representatives of the Ukrainian and Belarusian governments at the conference, and we hope that this translates into concrete and swift action to finally bring light into these cases," said Mr. Stoudmann.

| Home Page |