Prosecutors issue warnings to journalists from Hrodna

Prosecutors issued warnings to two independent journalists – Ales Kirkevich and Ales Dzianisau.

The information was spread by the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ).

The prosecutor's office of the Hrodna region issued an official warning to independent journalist Aliaksandr Dzianisau. Deputy head of the prosecution department of the Hdrona region talked to Dzianisau.

The warning was issued in connection with the coverage of the day of memory of rebels of the 1863 uprising that was marked in Svislach in late October.

“I received a warning for working without accreditation. The same warning was issued last year. I don't want to give any comments. The prosecutor is a clever and adequate person. He was polite. He issued me a warning and I received it.”

Aliaksandr Dzianisau had similar warnings in 2009 after he had been detained at Neman glass factory. He was also fined for filming in secondary school No. 28. The journalist may face a fine of from 20 to 50 penalty units if he receives one more warning this year.

Prosecutors gave an official warning to Ales Kirkevich, a BAJ member, on December 4.

Valery Pavedaika, a deputy head of the prosecution department for the Hrodna region, said to Kirkevich he had violated part 2 of article 229 of the Code of Administrative Offences (violation of the order of distributing mandatory free copies of periodicals, distributing erotic press, publishing retractions in media and illegal producing and distribution of media).

Ales Kirkevich declined to comment on the situation and refused to sign any documents.