Editor of magazine of Union of Poles in Belarus summoned to prosecutor’s office

Editor-in-chief of “Magazyn Polski na uchodźstwie” Ihar Bantsar received a summons from the prosecutor’s office of the Hrodna region saying he must give explanations to the deputy prosecutor.

Ihar Bantsar doesn’t exclude the reason for summons was the May issue of “Magazyn Polski na uchodźstwie”, containing a number of critical materials about Alyaksandr Lukashenka and measures taken by the committee of state security (KGB) against independent journalists. Besides, a collage depicting Lukashenka as Russian tsar Alexander III was placed on the cover, the independent journalist told Radio Svaboda.

“It’s obvious for me that the only reason for going to the prosecutor’s office is confiscation of the magazine I head. Officer of the prosecutor’s office Karavaeu refused to answer a question why I was summoned, but I don’t see another reason. “

In late June this year, militia officers seized more than 70 copies of “Magazyn Polski na uchodźstwie” from activists of the unofficial Union of Poles in Belarus led by Anżelika Borys, who were going to Ivyanets to meet with their supporters. According to militia officers, the copies of the magazine were sent to a commission of experts. Ihar Bantsar is probably summoned to the prosecutor’s office on the result of the examination. In accordance with the summons, the journalist must appear in the governmental institution on July 29.