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Trial of journalist Andrzej Poczobut resumes in Hrodna

The closed-door trial of journalist Andrzej Poczobut resumed in the Leninski District Court in Hrodna on June 28.

The Hrodna-based correspondent of the Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza is answering criminal charges of insulting and defaming the president in his articles and may be sentenced to up to four years in prison.

At the previous court session held on June 24, the public prosecutor demanded that Mr. Poczobut, a Belarusian citizen and ethnic Pole, be sentenced to three years in prison.

On Tuesday, Judge Vital Lyatsko is expected to hear Mr. Poczobut’s defense team and his final statement. He may pronounce his judgment later this day.

Journalist Andrzej Pisalnik told BelaPAN that around 50 people, mostly relatives, Polish community activists and journalists, gathered outside the courthouse on Tuesday morning.

According to Hrodna Regional Prosecutor Viktar Marozaw, 10 insulting articles by Mr. Poczobut about Alyaksandr Lukashenka were published in 2010 and 2011 in the online version of Gazeta Wyborcza, news site belaruspartisan.org, and social networking site livejournal.com.

The articles included "Time to Tighten Screws," "Lukashenka Finds Another Target," "Belarusian Election without Choice," "This is how Lukashenka Rules," "Lukashenka: Yes, I Rigged Election," "Pre-election Populism, Belarusian Style."

"In my opinion, I haven`t insulted Alyaksandr Lukashenka," Mr. Poczobut said in an interview with BelaPAN in late March. "The articles were critical of Lukashenka and even harsh, but not insulting."

The closed-door trial opened on June 14. Mr. Poczobut has been held in custody since April 6.