Journalist Alena Skebunova interrogated about insults on charter97.org website

The prosecutor’s office of the Mahilou region tries to figure out who posted “insulting remarks” about judge of the Leninski district court of Mahilou Iryna Lanchava on the website charter97.org on 7 July 2011.

On 13 October independent journalist Alina Skrabunova was questioned in connection with this case. According to human rights activist Barys Bukhel, who represented her interests at the questioning, the journalist was questioned by Pavel Starykou, the senior investigator of the investigation department of the prosecutor’s office of the Mahiliou region.

“The investigator said a special department in the internal affairs directorate of the Mahiliou region executive committee monitors publications on the Internet. Officers of the department informed about insults of the judge. Lanchava did not file any complaints, but does not matter, because a decision on applying to prosecutors can be made by the department itself. Lanchava and the chair of the Leninski district court Kuzhlyova have been informed about the inspection. The prosecutor’s office tries to find out who could post the comment insulting the judge,” Bukhel told RFE/RL.

On 7 July Alina Skrabunova was serving her 15-day arrest in the temporary detention facility in Mahilou. She was detained during silent protests on 3 July. The court decision was ruled by judge Aksana Ratnikava.

As for judge Iryna Lanchava, she delivered guilty verdicts to independent journalists Uladzimir Laptsevich in March and Ales Osipau in July.