Poczobut confined in a solitary cell

The journalist’s wife met with him in jail.

Andrzej Poczobut is kept in the Grodna jail as a suspect. He is charged with defamation of Lukashenka.

Poczobut refuses to cooperate with the investigation. The 10-day arrest will expire in the end of the current week, and the investigator must present an accusation by then.

This information was provided to Radio Svaboda by Andrzej Poczobut’s wife Oksana who has met with him today in the Grodna jail.

Oksana Poczobut said that their meeting lasted for almost two hours. Andrzej is alone in a cell for four inmates. He didn’t complain; on the contrary, he was supportive. He has however a realistic view of the future development of his situation:

”He sends his regards to everyone. He says he’s doing fine and waiting for the verdict. He expects it to be severe. This time, the powers won’t let him go, since, as he said, the order came from Minsk.”

Andrzej’s wife added that presently he is only a suspect, but after 29 June charges should be pressed:

“He refused to testify, so they can do nothing to him but keep him alone in a cell. Yesterday he met with his lawyer. And today he was surprised that we were allowed to meet.”

- Has Andrzej told you what publications allegedly contain defamation?

- They told him what he’s accused of. It’s all about his articles about the Vitsebsk guys who were shot, about the silent actions of the past year. He also wrote the article “Eggs. Lukashenka’s bluff” about Lukashenka’s insult of Western politicians. And then there were articles about human trafficking. He named a lot of publications...

- You mentioned that Andrzej was surprised that you were allowed to meet. Why?

- It’s hard to tell. It might have been the last time they allowed a meeting. They record something, maybe to analyze what’s being said. Just like last year when he was in prison and I came to visit, they pushed the play button.

- What about his health?

- He had started eating pills, taking care of his health when he was still at home. He said he was so close to be arrested - and now he’s in jail. He never completed his treatment at home, and now I cannot pass him the necessary medicines. I must go to the hospital to get papers proving that he’d had treatment.

- Does he have an access to newspapers, radio?

- He doesn’t know anything. He got newspapers when I left a parcel for him on Saturday. But he reads books. I wrote him two letters that he still hasn’t got. Only today he has found out how the situation looks like. He is very grateful to everyone who supports him.

As charter97.org reported previously, Andrzej Poczobut had been arrested on 21 June. A criminal case has been initiated on criminal article 367 part 2, defamation of the president in a public speech, printed or officially demonstrated work, in the mass media, by a person previously charged with defamation or insult.

In accordance with the Criminal Code, the journalist can be sentenced to up to 5 years of restriction of freedom or imprisonment.

On 5 July 2011, the Leninski court of Grodna passed a verdict discharging Poczobut on part 1 ac´rticle 368 of the Criminal Code (insult of the president), but finding him guilty on part 1 article 367 of the Criminal Code (defamation of the president).