Former head of PACE Sub-Committee on the Media Andrew McIntosh died

• 1.09.2010, 11:12

Andrew McIntosh was seriously engaged in problems of freedom of speech in Belarus.

Under the chairmanship of Andrew McIntosh landmark hearings on Belarus in Strasbourg and high-level international conferences on the issue of press freedom in Belarus were held. On his initiative in autumn 2008 a group of Belarusian journalists, members of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, was invited to make a speech in the House of Lords of the British Parliament. He was the person who said that there would be no free elections in Belarus until the press is free, the press-service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

“It is grave news. In the person of Andrew McIntosh the free press of the entire Europe, including e Belarusian one, has lost a real devoted friend,” said deputy chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Andrei Alyaksandrau. “Mr McIntosh was greatly interested in the situation in Belarus. He was an intellectual, sincere and agreeable person. The BAJ mourns over his death and expresses heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Nr McIntosh”.