(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic, RSF requested an explanation concerning the detention of Lazslo Liskaï, a French journalist of Hungarian origin, in Zagreb. “We are uncertain that this measure is fully justified,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “We ask that you look into this affair and ensure that the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Justice Minister Stjepan Ivanisevic, RSF requested an explanation concerning the detention of Lazslo Liskaï, a French journalist of Hungarian origin, in Zagreb. “We are uncertain that this measure is fully justified,” said Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “We ask that you look into this affair and ensure that the journalist’s rights are respected, notably his access to a lawyer of his choosing as soon as possible”, added RSF. The organisation also contacted French authorities, asking to be kept abreast of measures undertaken to secure Liskaï’s release.
On 2 March 2000, RSF learned that Liskaï, a French journalist of Hungarian origin, was arrested by Croatian authorities on 18 February at the Zagreb airport, following a request by Interpol’s Budapest office. In 1998, Liskaï, then in charge of the private Hungarian television station RTL-Klub, was found guilty of “fraud and falsification of documents”, and was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment. The journalist then returned to France, where he notably worked for the Canal + television station and contributed to the weekly “Le Point”. Liskaï is also the author of a book titled “Carlos Safe Behind the Iron Curtain”, published in 1992 in French (du Seuil publishers) and in Hungarian. In this book, he made allegations against Hungarian police, accusing them of providing refuge to the terrorist Carlos, in Budapest. According to the journalist’s colleagues, it was this publication which led to legal proceedings being launched against him.
