Vienna, 15/09/2011
The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), demands the immediate release of Viktor Lazic, a travel writer for the Belgrade-based daily, Press.
Lazic was detained on 3 September 2011 on the border between Georgia and South Ossetia. According to the journalist, he was detained because he had allegedly crossed the border of the self proclaimed territory of South Ossetia. He is being held in solitary confinement.
During the past four years, Lazic has been travelling around the world and filing weekly stories for Press.
“It is unacceptable to detain a journalist without reason,” said Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary General. “I urge the authorities in Tskhinvali to give an explanation for his illegal detention and release the journalist immediately.”