OSCE Permanent Council calls for release of prisoners

VIENNA, 4 May 2001 - During a recent visit to Moldova by permanent representatives of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe participating States, members of the delegation had an opportunity to visit Mr. Ilie Ilascu in the jail in Tiraspol (Moldova). Mr. Ilascu has been imprisoned, along with three other persons, since June 1992.

In view of the poor state of health of Mr. Ilascu and his colleagues, the OSCE Permanent Council urgently calls upon the leaders of the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova to release these prisoners on humanitarian grounds.

For further information, contact the Press and Public Information Section, OSCE Secretariat, Vienna, tel.: (+43-1) 514-36-180, (+43-1) 514-36-105; e-mail: infor@osce.org