07/09/2010 Political Affairs and Democracy
Strasbourg, 07.09.2010 – Sinikka Hurskainen (Finland, SOC), rapporteur on Belarus for the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), has expressed her concern at the death of Oleg Bebenin, a co-founder of the Charter 97 website in Belarus, on Friday.
“Questions have been raised about the circumstances of his death, and I expect the authorities to conduct a full, transparent and exhaustive investigation into this tragic event,” said Mrs Hurskainen, who met opposition representatives in Minsk less than two weeks ago.
“The Assembly will be following closely the outcome, as well as other developments in Belarus in the run-up to the Presidential election, especially as regards the freedom of the media, and the political freedoms exercised by Belarusian citizens.
In the meantime, I send my sincerest condolences to the family and friends of Mr Bebenin.”