Andrzej Poczobut given three years’ suspended sentence (Video)

The journalist was released in the courtroom.

Lawyer Alyaksandr Birylau said the court dropped insult charges from the journalist. As for the libel charge, the court found him guilty and delivered three years’ sentence suspended for two years.

As released, Poczobut left the court building and took his son in his arms. Activists of the Union of Poles of Belarus sang Sto Lat, a traditional Polish song.

The journalist told the media he did not consider himself guilty and would appeal against the verdict. According to Poczobut, the court said the libel was that he called Lukashenka a dictator.

Andrzej noted he had not hoped for such a verdict and was ready for a prison term. Poczobut does not plan to give up his work as a journalist and will continue his activity, but first he wants to rest.

The journalist commented on the today’s incident in court. According to Andrzej, his guards twisted his handcuffed arms so that he fell down.

Poczobut noted that he had not written in prison, because he was afraid the notes would be confiscated. If Gazeta Wyborcza editors find it necessary, he will try to recollect his three-month prison experience, the journalist said.

A criminal case against Poczobut was opened on March 28. Prosecutors said the journalist insulted and defamed Alyaksandr Lukashenka in his articles in Gazeta Wyborcza.

Anrzej Poczobut said he had not insulted Alyaksandr Lukasenka. “These publications contain only criticism of Lukashenka. My publications do not contain insults, just criticism,” the journalist said before detention.

Poczobut was taken into custody on April 6 for breaking the rules of release on own recognizance: he planned to go from Hrodna to Minsk to take part in a video conference with members of the European Parliament. Poczobut was detained for three days, but later a measure was restraint was changed from release on own recognizance to custody.

On June 24, prosecutor Alyaksandr Yuzhyk asked to sentence Poczobut to three years in a minimum security penal colony.

Prosecutor think the “insults” and “libel” were contained in the articles “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” .

Belarusian and international human rights organizations as well as leaders of Poland, the EU and USA demand to free Andrzej Poczobut.

Photo by “Nasha Niva”