Reporters Without Borders hails release of photographer Tomo Kriznar

Press Statement | September 4, 2006

Kriznar was sentenced to two years in prison on charges of spying and publishing false information on 14 August after entering Sudan without a visa. He had been held in Shala prison in Al-Fashir, the capital of North Dafur, since 20 July.

"Kriznar's release from prison is good news, but the imperative now is to obtain the release of Paul Salopek and his two assistants, who are being held in the same city for the same reasons, and to force the Sudanese government to keep its promises to respect press freedom and the right to be informed," Reporters Without Borders said.

The presidential pardon came after negotiations between the Sudanese government and Hamdija Blekic, a special envoy of the Slovenian president. Kriznar had himself also been acting as a special adviser to his country's president.

A correspondent of the Chicago Tribune daily newspaper, Salopek has been held in Al Fashir since 6 August along with his driver, Suleiman Abakar Moussa and his interpreter, Abdulraman Anu, who are both Chadians. They are also charged with spying and entering Sudan illegally and their trial has been set for 10 September.