The BAJ Has Had a Petition in Connection with the Criminal Persecution for Publications in the Internet :: Charter'97 :: News

The Belarusian Association of Journalists’ Board of Directors Has Had a Protest Petition in connection with the criminal persecution for publications in the Internet of the public activist Andrei Klimau.

The BAJ appeals in the petition to responsible persons and state bodies, within whose scope is making appropriate decisions on April, 10:

to change restraint, used against Andrei Klimau;
to follow generally accepted standards in the field of freedom of expression, when investigating and examining the case, do not allow arbitrary legal treatment of the Internet space;
to exclude practice of measures, connected with depriving or limitation of freedom for expression of opinion.

The journalist human rights organization expresses regret that “institution of criminal proceedings for statements is common practice in Belarus”.

It is reminded in the appeal that Grodno journalists Paval Mazheyka and Mikola Markevich were punished by the imprisonment on Criminal Code, and also the Editor-in-Chief of the “Rabochy” newspaper Viktar Ivashkevich. And as the BAJ draws attention, during the trials the courts brought diametrically opposite decision, whether the Internet may be considered mass media.

“Persecution for freedom of expression and information, guaranteed by the Constitution, discredits Belarus in the eyes of the civilized world, – the BAJ is warning the Belarusian society. – the OSCE representative on freedom issues Miklash Harashti in his report on the results of the visit mentioned that Belarus is the only country in the OSCE region, where people are imprisoned because of their statements”.

The politician and writer of political essays Andrei Klimau was arrested in Minsk on April, 3.
A custody was chosen as a restraint. The reason for criminal persecution was placement in the Internet political essays of Andrei Klimau. Investigation equaled “World net” to mass media, although this question is not regulated in the Belarusian legislation, – is said in the appeal of the Belarusian Association of Journalists.

It should be reminded that according to mass media information, the criminal case was brought against A. Klimau on the article 361 p.3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (“Appeal for subversion or change of the Constitutional system of the Republic of Belarus, or for accomplishment of crimes against the state, public appeals for violent seizure of power or change of the Constitutional system of the Republic of Belarus, or betrayal to state, or accomplishment of terrorist act or sabotage, or distribution of materials, which contain such appeals... realized with mass media usage”).

The politician is threatened by 5 year imprisonment for publications in the Internet.