Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-02-17-Speech-4-189"

Predicate	Value (sorted: default)
rdf:type	lpv_eu:Speech2
dcterms:Date	"2000-02-17"^^xsd:date2
dcterms:Is Part Of	lp_eu:Human rights2
dcterms:Language	"nl"^^xsd:language2
lpv:document identification number	"en.20000217.8.4-189"2
lpv:hasSubsequent	lp_eu:2000-02-17-Speech-4-1902
lpv:speaker	lp:Bas Belder2
lpv:spokenAs	member; EDD (1999-07-20--2004-07-19)3 unknown; Staatkundig Gereformeerde Partij - Gereformeerd Politiek Verbond - Reformatorisch Politieke Federatie (1999-07-20--2002-03-17)3 member; Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3 vice-chair; Delegation for relations with the United States (1999-07-22--2002-01-14)3 substitute; Committee on Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy (1999-07-21--2002-01-14)3
lpv:translated text	"Mr President, what sort of government hands over one of its own citizens to people whom it itself describes as ‘terrorists’ and ‘bandits’? Without any hesitation, the Russian Minister for Internal Affairs, Vladimir Rushailo, earlier this week confirmed the answer to this revealing question. The victim of this exchange is said to be the 35-year-old war correspondent of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Andrey Babitsky. I am using the phrase ‘is said to be’ on purpose, because official Chechen sources are still denying that they would have exchanged Mr Babitsky for a number of Russian prisoners of war. In the meantime, the highest Russian authorities are casting a veil of secrecy over the mysterious disappearance of this courageous journalist. For example, Acting President Vladimir Putin gave an assurance last Monday that he had ordered the country’s security services to bring the missing reporter back to Moscow safely. Russia’s new strong man, however, added a rather puzzling comment to this welcome declaration: ‘As far as I am aware, Mr Babitsky already feels free.’ This distressing ambiguity on the part of the Kremlin is not really surprising. The facts are clear. Andrey Babitsky was an unwanted busybody in Mr Putin’s ‘anti-terrorist’ operation in Chechnya. Hence his disappearance of over one month. In any case, the Babitsky affair warrants one conclusion: the leaders in Moscow cannot possibly maintain that hostage-taking and trading in defenceless citizens is a specifically Chechen crime. This resolution is already the fourth in a row within a short space of time in connection with the Chechen tragedy. Nor is it a mere luxury. Indeed, it is in line with some thirty Russian media bodies which yesterday distributed a special issue on Andrey Babitsky free of charge."@en1

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