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29 February 2000

Text: OSCE Media Rep Urges Charges Against Babitsky Be Dropped

(Duve statement on Radio Liberty reporter)  (470)
Freimut Duve, the representative on freedom of the media for the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), has
welcomed the news that Radio Liberty reporter Andrei Babitsky has
returned to Russia but remains concerned that Babitsky is still under
criminal investigation for "falsifying documents."
In a statement issued February 29, Duve urged that charges against
Babitsky be dropped "for reasons of compassion, if for nothing else."
Babitsky disappeared in mid-January while covering the war in
Chechnya. According to Duve's statement, when Babitsky was detained in
Daghestan on February 25, he was carrying an Azerbaijani passport.
Duve's statement also said he is "extremely concerned" by reports that
ITAR-TASS correspondent Vladimir Yatsin -- who had been held hostage
by Chechen rebels -- was executed recently, and he demanded that rebel
commanders account for Yatsin's whereabouts.
Following is the text of Duve's statement:
(begin text)
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe 
Representative on Freedom of the Media 
29 February 2000
Freimut Duve: charges against Babitsky should be dropped
VIENNA, 29 February 2000 -- Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on
Freedom of the Media, welcomes the news from Russia that Andrei
Babitsky, the Radio Liberty correspondent in Chechnya, is alive and
well and finally arrived in Moscow. The OSCE Representative had
followed Mr. Babitsky's plight and made a number of interventions with
the Russian Government on his behalf.
However, Freimut Duve is concerned that Andrei Babitsky is still under
criminal investigation for "falsifying documents." The OSCE
Representative understands that when Babitsky was detained on 25
February in Dagestan, an Azerbaijani passport was found on him.
Freimut Duve believes that after the ordeal Babitsky had been through
over the past month-and-a-half, he should be allowed to return to his
family. It is up to the Prosecutor to decide if charges filed against
Babitsky should be dropped. However, Freimut Duve encourages the State
Prosecutor to do so, for reasons of compassion, if for nothing else.
The OSCE Representative is also concerned with reports from Babitsky
himself that he was beaten at the Chernokozovo detention centre.
Although the reporter did not consider these beatings as "serious,"
Freimut Duve expects the Russian authorities to investigate these
allegations.
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media is extremely concerned
with reports from Russia, that ITAR-TASS correspondent Vladimir
Yatsin, who has been held hostage by Chechen rebels, was recently
executed. Freimut Duve demands that rebel commanders account for the
whereabouts of Vladimir Yatsin.
OSCE Press and Public Information Section Kartner Ring 5-7 A-1010
Vienna, Austria tel: +43 1/514 36 180 E-mail: info@osce.org Website:
http://www.osce.org
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)