Independent journalist Andrei Mialeshka to be tried December 2

December 2, Hrodna journalist Andrei Mialeshka will be tried once again for cooperation with the independent media without accreditation. November 29, he received a subpoena by registered mail. The hearing will take place at the Leninski District Court of Hrodna.

“I am summonsed to court, as an administrative case under Article 22.9, part 2, “illegal manufacture and distribution of information”, has been brought against me. I interviewed a professor of Hrodna University Valery Charapitsa at the presentation of the book "400 names of Hrodna region" in Hrodna regional library. The interview has been posted on the website of Radio The radio.

This already the third time this year when Mr. Mialeshka is brought to administrative responsibility for journalism without accreditation, which is impossible to obtain from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. The journalist believes that the administrative prosecution is politically motivated and regards it as a ban on the profession. Recently, a subpoena has been also presented to an independent journalist from the town of Biaroza, Tamara Shchapiotkina.