Chief editor of "NAŠ Mahilioŭ" to stand trial

The trial of Ihar Barysau will start at 9.30 a.m. on July 15 at Kastrychnitski District Court of Mahilioŭ.

Mr. Barysau learned about bringing two new administrative cases on July 13, when the police phoned him and proposed to get back the computers that had been seized from him.

“When I came to the police station senior lieutenant Varantsou returned me the computers and familiarized me with the resolution about the cessation of the inspection within the frames of the criminal case on libel against the manager of one of Mahilioŭ enterprises that had been allegedly published on the website of the newspaper "NAŠ Mahilioŭ". The policeman also familiarized me with the two administrative cases that had been instigated against me. One of them – under Article 22.9, part 2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, because, being the editor of the website I supposedly overlooked the article that had been published on the website, and the other one – under Article 23.24, part 2 of the CAO – for getting financial aid for the functioning of the newspaper,” says Mr. Barysau.

The chief editor of "NAŠ Mahilioŭ" says he had been partially familiarized with the cases and was also given a writ. The name of the judge is not known yet, but the trial will begin on June 15. The police promise to take the case materials to court by courier before the beginning of the hearing. Moreover, policeman Varantsou said that nobody would be jailed, and Ihar Barysau could even miss the trial if he wanted – the judge could consider the cases in his absence.