Belarus

Belarus Accuses Latvian Diplomat

Belarus' presidential elections in March prompted demonstrations in a number of neighboring countries, in this case in Ukraine (epa) July 28, 2006 -- Belarusian authorities have accused an employee of the Latvian Embassy in Minsk of distributing pornography.

Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov said pornographic materials were seized during a search on July 25 of the home of the embassy employee, who has not been identified.


The Latvian Foreign Ministry said the raid was a breach of an international convention on the treatment of diplomatic staff.


The row comes at a time when Belarus' authoritarian regime is increasingly shunned by Western nations.


(dpa)

Minsk, March 25

Minsk, March 25

THE AUTHORITIES GET TOUGH: RFE/RL's Belarus Service filed these images from the police action against the March 25 demonstration in Minsk. Photographs by Maks Kapran.


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