Belarusian Authorities Hide Sentence to Klimau
In the evening of 7 September it became known that more than a month ago the political activist Andrei Klimau had been sentenced to 2 years of jail for alleged distribution of calls to coup d’etat through internet.
On 8 September this information was distributed by RFE/RL with reference to the press secretary of Minsk city prosecutor’s office Aleh Ahafonau. Before this the prosecutor’s office continued telling journalists that the case was still being investigated.
The criminal case against Klimau was considered by Tsentralny district court of Minsk on 30 July – 1 August. Judge Alena Illiina found Klimau guilty of having violated article 361 of the Criminal Code of Belarus – mass media distribution of calls to forced overturn or change of the constitutional state. The case against Klimau was brought this spring for an internet publication at the web site of the United Civil Party. An international organization Reporters Without Borders condemned the politically motivated harassment of Klimau.
