The trial of journalist Andrei Mialeshka protracts

On 11 June, another session on the administrative case against freelance journalist Andrei Mialeshka, who is accused of producing and distributing information products illegally, was held in the Kastrychnitski district court of Hrodna. On that day,a half an hour interrogation of two witnesses took place, after which judge Dzmitry Kedal announced another break. The trial will continue on Monday 16 June, at 14 o'clock.

The first witness questioned was a police representative – the head of the Kastrychnitski district police department Andrei Hancharou. He said that his department carries out web browsing, but could not answer the questions of Mialeshka and his lawyer on what grounds the material disposed in April on the website of the Belarusian Radio “Racyja” and signed by the pseudonym Ihar Nikalajeu was considered of Mialeshka’s authorship.

Mialeshka’s lawyer Katsyaryna Piatrovich reiterated that the journalist should not be punished in court under the article for production and distribution of information products, as the legal responsibility under Article 22.9 Part 2 of the Administrative Code shall be carried only by legal persons and agencies. Judge Dzmitry Kedal unexpectedly announced that since the court did not receive the materials about the former warning against Mialeshka’s work without accreditation from the public prosecutor’s office during this week, the process would be protracted again.