Prosecutors extend inquiry into Aleh Byabenin’s case

Prosecutors intend to expand the inquiry in the death of Belarusian journalist Aleh Byabenin for a month.

Interfax-Zapad news agency has learnt this from Tatsyana Kalinina, the senior assistant prosecutor of the Minsk region.

“The prosecutor’s office intends to extend the inquiry into Aleh Byabenin’s death for a month. Article 173 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Belarus provides for possible extension of prosecutor’s inquiry,” Kalinina said.

She reminded that the inquiry would be prolonged for the second time. On October 3, prosecutor of the Minsk region Alyaksandr Arkhipau had extended the inquiry into Byabenin’s death until November 3, Kalinin said. She added: “The decision was caused by the fact that a number of examinations haven’t been completed by the moment, and other prosecutor’s actions were in progress.”

Aleh Byabenin, the founder and director of charter97.org website, was found hanged in his summer house near Minsk on September 3. The law-enforcement agencies hurried to report it was a suicide. The death of Aleh Byabenin raises many questions. Forensic scientists cannot define the exact time of his death. Aleh Byabenin didn’t leave a suicide note .Friends and relatives of the journalist claim there were traces of violence on his body. Aleh Byabenin was a key figure in the team of opposition presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov.