Russian observer deported from Moldova
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Friday, 15 July 2005 |
MOSCOW. (Interfax) - Moldova on Friday morning deported Alexei Kochetkov, chief of the CIS-EMO international observer mission, who was sentenced to a seven-day arrest on Sunday.
Kochetkov told Interfax that the reasons for his early release were unknown to him.
Representatives of the CIS-EMO international organization for monitoring elections in countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States Kochetkov and Vladimir Lebyodkin were detained on the border between Moldova and Transdniestria on July 9, supposedly for a fight with civilians. Both observers are Russian citizens. They were tried on July 10, and Kochetkov was sentenced to seven days in detention and Lebyodkin to 13 days. Lebyodkin remains under arrest. "He suffers from asthma and is being held in appalling conditions. The date of his release is not known and, judging by all accounts, a criminal case may be started against him," Kochetkov said.
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