Criminal case opened against Andrzej Poczobut

Andrzej Poczobut has begun to read materials of the criminal case against him.

The investigation has been completed. The journalist was brought charges in presence of his lawyer under two articles of the Criminal Code: 368 (part 1) – insulting, and 367 (part 1) - defamation against the president. The first article carries a punishment of up to two years of imprisonment, the second one – from two to four years in prison. The materials of investigation were given to Andrzej Pozhobut today in the pretrial detention facility of Hrodna prison by investigator Arseny Nikolski, Radio Svaboda informs.

Lawyer Alyaksandr Birylau thinks that it will take Andrzej Pozhobut two or three days to examine the case. Then the case will be sent to court, which will set a trial date, the lawyer explained.

Andrzej Poczobut is a correspondent for Gazeta Wyborcza, a Polish daily. The criminal case is based on journalist’s publications, most of which were taken from Gazeta Wyborcza.