Iryna Khalip's criminal case sent to court

A criminal case against a Belarusian journalist will be re-heard by a court.

The corrections department of Minsk's Partyzanski police department has sent the criminal case against journalist Iryna Khalip to the court for a second consideration, BelaPAN news agency reports.

“When I visited the corrections department last time for a check, I was told that my case had been submitted to a court a week ago,” she says. “The court hasn't sent a summons yet. The probation period expires on July 21. This is Sunday, so a court hearing must take place not later than Friday, July 19.”

According to Khalip, the court will decide whether she will be released, sent to prison or her probation will be extended.

Iryna Khalip, the wife of former presidential candidate Andrei Sannikov, was given a two-year suspended sentence on May 16, 2011.

She was convicted in the case of so called mass disorders in Minsk on December 19, 2010, under part 1 of article 342 of the Criminal Code (organising and preparing the actions that violate public order, or active participating in such actions).

She cannot leave Minsk, must visit the police station for weekly checks and be at home after 22:00.

Lukashenka repeatedly said that Khalip could leave the coutry and promised to organise such an opportunity for her.

On February 13, Khalip was allowed to go to the UK to meet with her husband and to Russia to visit the office of Novoya Gazeta where she works. She returned to Belarus on April 3, before the deadline established by corrections department.