Byalynichy: police inspector holds another questioning concerning “BelSat” journalists

In the midday on 2 May police inspector of Bialynichy District Executive Committee Alyaksandr Yemelyanau came to the house of Valery Vusik in the village of Lebyadzyanka and asked how the latter got acquainted with independent journalists and how the report about the "Lebyadzyanka" farm appeared on the TV channel "BelSat".

"Police inspector Yemyalyanau came to my house," says Valery Vusik. "I thought he would ask me questions concerning the administrative case about the alleged slander against the nephew of the former head of "Lebyadzyanka" Mikhail Byalou. However, Yemyalyanau was interested in something else: where and when I got acquainted with the editor of the "Mahilyouski Vybar" newspaper Barys Vyrvich, why independent journalists shot their report at "Lebyadzyanka" and how this report appeared on "BelSat". He also said that I would be a witness in the case concerning which he held the questioning.

I answered that I have known journalist Barys Vyrvich for a long time, since the times of joint work in the agricultural sphere. What concerns the independent journalists, they came to "Lebyadzyanka" after the publication of my address "What has changed during the several last years at the "Lebyadzyanka" farm" in the "Mahiliouski Vybar" newspaper, they got interested in my address. That's why they shot a video there. By the way, a new "Lebyadzyanka" farm has been being built for several years and nobody knows when the construction works will end. I answered that I didn't know how the report about "Lebyadzyanka" appeared on "BelSat" but I completely agreed with its content. The police officer didn't tell why he was so interested in the activities of the independent journalists. He left on putting down my testimony."

According to human rights defender Barys Bukhel, Byalynichy police are possibly seeking ways to bring an administrative case against the journalists.

Bear in mind that on 28 February 2013 the journalists paid a visit to the "Lebyadzyanka" farm. After their visit a number of workers of the farm who had talked to the journalists received administrative charges. Byalynichy police also tried to accuse Valery Vusik, who had visited the farm together with the journalists, of insulting the nephew of the former head of "Lebyadzyanka", tractor driver Mikhail Byalou, with obscene language, not reacting to the proposals to calm down, waiving his hands and threatening with the use of physical violence. On 8 April Judge Aksana Zahorskaya justified Valery Vusik, clearing him of charges under Article 17.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, "disorderly conduct".

On 26 April Judge Aksana Zahorskaya punished Mikhail Byalou with a fine of 400,000 rubles under Article 9, part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, "violation, purposeful insult of personal honor and dignity, expressed in an obscene form", for insulting Valery Vusik.