Journalist may face charges of ”discrediting” of Belarus

Editor of the paper Bobruiskiy Kurier Anatol Sanatsenka was summoned to a meeting with inspector Galina Tanvirava at the tax inspection office on 5 April.

The recent discussion around the fate of his company Reklamniy kurier may be the reason to the summons.

- I went to the tax office in the morning. I was there when suddenly two “comrades” came in and introduced themselves as KGB, Sanatsenka told the human rights center Viasna.

- They told me their first names - Zmitser Leanidavich and Zmitser Genadzievich. The first said he was a lieutenant-colonel, the other one didn’t say a word and only took notes. Everyone from the tax inspection left the room and didn’t come back until the conversation was over – and it took two hours and a half! Leanidavich showed me copies of my articles from 2012 and 2011. They warned me about article 369 note 1 (discrediting of the Republic of Belarus) and told not to write anything like that. In my turn, I reminded them about my journalist and Constitutional rights and said they were violated.

Anatol Sanatsenka insists that the meeting had a very specific goal – to warn him about possible charges. The KGB persons neither asked him any questions, nor mentioned other Babruisk journalists or activists.

- I suggested writing down everything they said. Zmitser Genadzievich chased away tax inspectors and was struggling with a computer. He didn’t succeed in printing out the text with the warning – the printer “took our side” and refused to work, Anatol Sanatsenka remarked with a laugh.

- But I made it clear at once that I would not sign anything. But now it seems that when you visit any state authority you should be prepared to meet KGB…