Journalist of Polish “Gazeta Wyborcza” was charged with insulting Lukashenka

In the nearest time Andrzej Poczobut, a reporter of Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland), can be arrested in Belarus.

On Monday he was summoned to the prosecutor’s office of Hrodna region. He was handed in an order on institution of criminal proceedings against him for publishing articles in the newspaper and in his blog.

The case has been initiated on charges related to Article 368 Part 1 “Insult of the President of Belarus” and based upon the materials of the investigation carried out by the KGB of Hrodna region.

As Andrzej Poczobut told to charter97.org website, it is not clear so far, what was considered an insult of the Belarusian dictator; in the prosecutor’s office he was just told the titles of the articles allegedly containing “insults of and fabrications about Lukashenka”. Here are some quotes from the order on institution of criminal proceedings:

“In the period of 2010-2011 on the web at websites www.wyborcza.pl, belaruspartisan.org and poczobut.livejournal.com A. Poczobut posted texts created by him called “Time to tighten screws”, “Lukashenka has found a new target”, “Elections without choice in Belarus”, “Tell me “batska”, “That’s how Lukashenka ruled”, “Lukashenka: Yes, I’ve forged election”, “Freedom in Belarusian style. Confessed and released?”, “Pre-election populism a la Belarusian”, “That’s how Belarusian KGB intimidates” and a text without a title staring with “Thank you all…”, containing elements of public insult of the President of Belarus…”

As stated by Poczobut, he understands that he is facing a prison term, but he is not going to run away from the country anywhere.

“What are the reasons of opening the case N11025190007? I think there are a few of them,” the journalist states. “Firstly, personal reasons. My person provokes warmest feelings from people in uniform. And secondly, international ones. It is a long time since the Union of Poles, where I am the chairman of the Main Council, was considered by “armed lackeys of Lukashenka” as potential hostages in bilateral Belarusian-Polish relations. Is Poland planning sanctions against our country? And we will smother Poles! This is so much the case, that such promises were made by diplomatic representatives of Belarus almost as plain-language messages. And thirdly, the reasons related to the web. Back on December 20 at his triumph press-conference on his new “elegant victory” Lukashenka promised “to bring discipline” to the web. My dear mister Lukashenka, my dear victim of the crime, I am ready to answer for my words and deeds to the fullest extent of the law. And I hope that the time will come when the former president of Belarus A. Lukashenka would have to answer for the developments in Belarus in the last 16 years the fullest extent of the law.”