The conflict around the Union of Poles in Belarus continues. On Thursday, Belarusian border guards refused entrance to Roman Varszytski, a TV cameraman from Poland. (29-AUG-05)

On 25 August, four Bialystok journalists, who had been driving in the Polish TV car to Hrodna, were detained for a while. Customs officers checked their documents and baggage. They first put a seal in the passport of Roman Varszytski, which allowed entry to Belarus, but then annulled it, according to his colleague Mikola Vauraniuk. They did not explain the reasons and referred him to the General Consulate of Belarus in Bialystok for explanation. Mr. Varszytski had lost neither his visa nor accreditation.

Roman Varszytski has repeatedly visited Hrodna to cover the conflict around the Union of Poles. On 4 August unidentified people punctured two wheels in his company car near the Hrodna railroad station, reports Radio Liberty.

Related stories: – Norwegian protests against harassment of Polish journalists in Belarus  
– Letter from the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights in Poland 
– Repressive measures against Poles in Belarus