Published: August 25, 2005
State Department Comment on Belarus Incident with U.S. Diplomat
By Alan Gray, NewsBlaze 
Belarusian police detained a U.S. diplomat for forty minutes while in a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations.
The routine meeting took place in Gomel, Belarus on August 23, 2005. Police entered the meeting and refused to permit the diplomat to leave for forty minutes, without offering any clear explanation, except for an alleged need to check his identification.
The U.S. State Department made their concerns about this incident known to Belarusian officials both in Minsk and in Washington. Belarusian officials indicated they will look into the matter and provide more information, but a full explanation has not yet been received.
The U.S. continues to press the Government of Belarus to respect civil society and to uphold its international commitments to human rights.
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