Journalist tried for “insulting” dictator (Photo)

A trial over Andrzej Poczobut, a journalist of Polish Gazeta Wyborcza, began in Hrona.

The Court of the Leninski district of Hrodna started hearing the case against Belarusian correspondent for Gazeta Wyborcza Andrzej Poczobut on June 14. The journalist is charged with insulting and defaming Alyaksandr Lukashenka. He may face from 2 to 4 years in prison. Poczobut has been in the pre-trial detention facility in Hrodna for two months.

The trial conducted by judge Vitaly Lyatsko is held behind closed doors. Andrzej is convinced the court procedings won’t take much time and does not rule out he may be thrown into prison.

No one, even family members, was allowed in the courtroom. Poczbut’s wife Aksana was not allowed as well, because she “was not on the list”, as she was told. Aksana managed to see names on the list: these were a state prosecutor, a judge, and experts involved in translation of Andrzej’s texts.

About 70 people gathered in front of the court building: activists of the disobedient Union of Poles of Belarus, relatives, journalists, Hrodna oppositionists. Members of the Union of Poles held portraits of Poczobut in their hands.

The journalist was guarded to court in a van and let go through a chain of a dozen of policemen.

Journalist’s lawyer Alyaksandr Byarylau went out during the lunch break, but he could not say any details because it was a closed-door hearing. The lawyer just noted that Andrzej looked ill, but was very active, argued and filed motions (all of them were dismissed). The lawyer supposed it was only the beginning of the court proceedings, which would probably take two or three days.

Poczobut was not shown to public. With his arms twisted behind his back, he was guarded in the court through two lines of riot policemen after a break.

The trial ended at 4 pm. The prosecutor filed a motion to reformulate the charges. The trial will be resumed on June 17 (Friday) at 10 am.

“It is a politically motivated trial. The last time when Belarusian journalists had this experience was in 2002. Three of our colleagues were tried under the same articles of the criminal code. What is most alarming here is that the trial is held behind closed doors. This again demonstrates political character of the proceedings. The authorities make everything to prevent information from leaking to public. They do not want to make this trial public,” the head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, Zhanna Litvina, said.

The articles that contain “insults” and “defamation” of Lukashenka, as prosecutors think: “Lukashenka has found another aim”, “Elections without choice in Belarus”, “Call me father”, “Lukashenka rules in this way”, “Lukashenka; Yes, I falsified elections”, “Freedom in Belarusian way. Repent and go free?”, “Time to tighten screws”, “Pre-election populism in Belarusian way”, “Belarusian KGB intimidates in this manner”.

Photos by “Nasha Niva”