Appendix 3

CODHOS  press release

With the support of :

-          L’Action des Chrétiens pour l’Abolition de la Torture (ACAT) France

-          Les Amis de la Terre.

-          La Commission de Recherche et d’Information Indépendante sur la Radioactivité (CRIIRAD)

-          La Fédération Internationale des ligues des Droits de l’Homme (FIDH)

-          Le Groupement de Scientifiques pour l’Information sur l’Energie Nucléaire (GSIEN)

-          Le Réseau Sortir du Nucléaire

INSTITUT DE FRANCE

ACADÉMIE DES SCIENCES

COMITE DE DEFENSE DES HOMMES DE SCIENCE

(CODHOS)

 The President

CODHOS  -  Press Release

The case of Yuri Bandazhevsky

The human rights defence committee for scientists of the Paris Academy of Science has, for several months, been closely following the situation of Yuri Bandazhevsky, an anatamo-pathologist, internationally reputed for the excellence of his work on the radioactive consequences of the Chernobyl accident.

 Since 1999, our committee has intervened regularly on his behalf with the Belarus authorities in the name of science and the respect of human rights.

 A review of this case shows that although Professor Bandazhevsky was officially arrested for corruption during the discharge of his duties at the Gomel Institute, the real reason for his conviction stems from the criticism that he formulated in a scientific report concerning the policy of the Ministry Health which refused to take into account the continuing contamination of the earth and food and the area and which minimised the risks to which the population was being exposed.

 This breach of  the principle of freedom of expression is, unfortunately, not the only objection to be made.  Observers present at the trial reported eight infringements of Belorussian law and the conditions of imprisonment of Professor Yuri Bandazhevsky are not in accordance with United Nations ruling on the treatment of prisoners.

 Today, the involvement of the media is necessary to facilitate immediate, large-scale action on behalf of Professor Yuri Bandazhevsky whose state of health is deteriorating alarmingly.

François Jacob,

25, rue du Dr Roux 75724 Paris Cedex 15 

Tél :  01.45.68.84.87-Fax : 01.40.61.31.16

E. mail : fjacob@pasteur.fr

23, QUAI DE CONTI, 75006 PARIS - TÉLÉPHONE 0144

4143 67 - TÉLÉCOPIE 01 44 4143 63