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Alert

Journalist arrested, faces three-year sentence for using concealed camera

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called for the immediate release of Romanian journalist George Buhnici, of the privately-owned television station Pro TV, who was arrested by Bulgarian authorities on 16 November 2004 for filming with a concealed camera in a duty-free shop on the Romanian-Bulgarian border. He faces up to three years in prison under Bulgarian law, which considers the use of a hidden camera as spying.

"This journalist is the victim of an absurd and archaic law that stipulates a punishment of utterly disproportionate severity for the use of a hidden camera, which is a common practice by investigative journalists," RSF said in a letter to Bulgarian Chief Prosecutor Nikola Filchev. "We call on you to do everything possible to secure Buhnici's immediate release," the organisation added.

Buhnici was arrested along with his driver, Ovidiu Pavel, on the afternoon of 16 November on the border between Giurgi, in Romania, and Ruse, in Bulgaria.

Pro TV said Buhnici used a mini-camera concealed in a cigarette packet to film in the duty-free shop. Bulgarian customs officials seized the camera and the video recording. The driver was released a few hours later, but Buhnici was placed in police custody in Ruse.

The Sofia Prosecutor's Office is examining the confiscated material in order to determine what charge will be brought against Buhnici. Article 339 (a) of Bulgaria's Criminal Code says anyone using "tools of espionage to acquire secret information" without specific authorisation is liable to up to three years in prison. A concealed camera is regarded as such a tool.

On the evening of 17 November, Buhnici's detention was extended for another 72 hours to give the Prosecutor's Office time to decide if he would be charged with "espionage".

Romania's consul in Sofia, Victor Bojin, who was allowed to meet with Buhnici, told RSF that the journalist's rights were being respected and that he was optimistic that Buhnici would be released. The journalist's lawyers said they expected he would be fined and would be able to return to Romania very soon.