CPJ CALLS FOR ERNEST VARDANIAN’S IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lragir.am
13/05/2010

New York, May 12, 2010. The Committee to Protect Journalists issued
the following statement today after authorities in the unrecognized
Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic released an alleged confession
by independent journalist Ernest Vardanian, who has been imprisoned
since April 7 on trumped-up treason charges.

"We are deeply concerned about the wellbeing of our colleague Ernest
Vardanian and call on Transdniester authorities to free him at once,"
said CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova .

"The farcical footage aired on the local state television proves
nothing else but the pressure to which this journalist has been
subjected for over a month now. We call on Moldovan authorities
and the international community to step up their efforts towards
Vardanian’s release."