Belarusian Policemen Searched House of Latvian Diplomat

25.07.2006.

On July 25 at 3 a.m. Belarusian policemen broke into the apartment of a diplomat of the Latvian Embassy in Minsk and searched the house. During that operation representatives of law-enforcing agencies of Belarus seized private belongings of the embassy workers. It is reported in the special statement for the press distributed by Latvian Embassy in Belarus. The name of the diplomat is not disclosed.

The Embassy calls this move of the Belarusian authorities gross violation of Vienna convention on diplomatic relations. The Belarusian side is fully responsible for the developments, the Embassy stated.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry has prepared a note of protest to the Belarusian foreign Ministry. Besides, the Foreign Ministry of Latvia has summoned the head of the Belarusian diplomatic mission in Riga for explanations.

The Foreign Ministry of Latvia reminds that Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Article 29, reads: The person of a diplomatic agent shall be inviolable. He shall not be liable to any form of arrest or detention. Article 30 in its turn stipulates that the private residence of a diplomatic agent shall enjoy the same inviolability and protection as the premises of the mission. His papers, correspondence and his property, shall likewise enjoy inviolability.
Source: www.charter97.org