Andrzej Poczobut to have new trial

The probation period in Andrzei Poczobut's case over “libel against Lukashenka” expires on September 20.

On July 5, 2011, Hrodna's Leninski district court found Poczobut guilty of violating part 1 of article 367 of the Criminal Code and sentenced him to 3 years of imprisonment with a probation period of 2 years, the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists writes.

Under part 7 of article 77 of the Criminal Code, a new trial is held after the end of the probation period. A court can:

– Release the convicted person from punishment, if “the convicted person didn't violate the law during the probation period and proved he mended his way”;

– extend the probation if the convicted person “tried to behave in accordance with the law, but didn't prove he fully mended his way”;

– transfer the convicted person to serve his term of punishment if “ the convicted person didn't try to observe the law during the probation period”.

The journalist said on September 19 he wasn't informed about the trial. “It must happen in the nearest days. They are likely to inform me at the last moment,” the journalists supposes.