Prosecutor’s Office Accuses Journalist in Fight with Guard of Main Post Office

According to RFE/RL

Minsk Leninski Borough Prosecutor’s Office filed to court the criminal case against the journalist of Belorusskaya Gazeta Kiryl Zhyvalovich. He is accused in fight with a guard of Main Post Office (situated in Minsk).

The investigator Yury Varanko familiarized the journalist with the final accusation upon part 2 of article # 363 of the Criminal Code (resistance to policeman or other person that guards public order with usage of physical force). According to the accusation, on 10 December 2004 Kiryl Zhyvalovich came to the Main Post Office in the state of alcoholic intoxication. The guard Yury Nazarchuk complained that the journalist hit him in the face and smashed his nose and lips. He was confessed the victim on the case.

Kiryl Zhyvalovich disproves the charges. He stated to RFE/RL:

-- The accusation has false information that I was drunk and beat the guard, which wasn’t confirmed by medical expertise. I filed to Minsk Leninski Borough Prosecutor’s Office to stop the criminal case against because of absence of corpus delicti. Yury Nazarchuk gave comments to BelaPAN agency, which is pressure on the investigation and distribution of false information. I’ll wait till trial and then will file suit for protection of my honor and dignity.

If the court finds Kiryl Zhyvalovich guilty, he can be punished with up to five years of personal restraint or jail. According to the Criminal Process Code, the court can use the fact hat the journalist hasn’t been yet criminally punished and imprison him conditionally.