Chief Editor of “Birzha Informacii” Is Charged with Insult to President

The chief editor of the independent newspaper “Birzha Informacii” Alena Rawbetskaya was summoned to Hrodna Leninski District Prosecutor’s Office concerning the publication of information concerning the upcoming referendum in the number of the newspaper for 9 September.

They informed the journalist about initiation of a criminal case against her upon part 10 of article 172 of the Administrative Code (distribution of the information that insults honor and dignity of president of the Republic of Belarus). According to Rawbetskaya, the pretensions of the prosecutor’s office concerned the following phrase of the publication: “The referendum (without which it is impossible to receive the third term) that is declared by Mr. President is a challenge to the society. One needs not only impudence, but also scorn for people for such a step…”

The case was passed to court. Alena Rawbetskaya can be fined 50-100 basic values.