Andrei Pachobut sentenced to 3 years of jail with 2-year determent
Andrei Pachobut, journalist and blogger, correspondent for Gazeta Wyborcza
Andrei Pachobut, a journalist for the Polish weekly Gazeta Wyborcza, was tried at the
Leninski District Court of Hrodna. He was charged with insult of president
(Artice 368, part 1 of the Criminal Code) and libel against president, (Article
367, part 1). The charges under the former articles were dropped.
The prosecutor demanded to punish the journalist with three years of
imprisonment. The judge found Andrei guilty under Article 368, part 1 and
sentenced him to 3 years of imprisonment with a 2-year determent of the penalty
execution.
The trial was conducted behind the closed doors. Even Pachobut’s wife, daughter
and parents weren’t admitted to it. Before the beginning of the trial the police
tried to detain photo correspondent Siarhei Hryts, but his colleagues managed
to defend him.
In his last plea Andrei Pachobut insisted on his innocence.
