Polish senator: Closing Poczobut's case is game of Lukashenka

The Belarusian ruler continues to trade in political prisoners with the West.

Polish senator Marek Borowski says in relation to closing Poczobut's case that it is yet another game of the Belarusian ruler, Radio Racyja reports.

“Lukashenka uses the one step forward two steps back method. Of course, it is better when a person is not tried or jailed. On the other hand, there are no reasons to be happy,” he said.

It should be reminded that a Hrodna-based correspondent for Polish Gazeta Wyborcza was arrested in June 2012 and later released on his own recognizance. Andrzej Poczobut was accused of libel against Alyaksandr Lukashenka in his articles on the websites charter97.org and Belorusski Partizan. He might have been thrown into prison for up to 5 years.

The Investigation Committee announced on March 15 that the probe was closed.

It is the second criminal case against the journalist. On July 5, 2011, Hrodna's Leninski district court found Andrzej Poczobut guilty of violating part 1 of article 367 of the Criminal Code (defamation of the president) for his publications and gave him a three-year suspended sentence.