Radio “Racja” journalist summonsed to prosecutor's office
Henadz Barbarych was handed a summons
ordering to appear in a prosecutor's office on the previous day.
Dzmitry Pastayalka, who issued a
prosecutor's warning to Tatsiana Belashova,
wants to hear explanations of journalist Henadz Barbarych, the press service of the Belarusian Association of
Journalists (BAJ) reports.
The Radio “Racja” journalist was given
the summons on the next day after he was to appear in the prosecutor's office.
Henadz Barbarych says he was not able to come for questioning, because he did
not know about it.
“I found a notification in my mailbox saying I must receive a registered
letter. It was a summons inviting me to visit the prosecutor's office and
threatening to fine me for failure to appear,” the journalist said.
The last time when “Racja” journalists drew attention of the law-enforcement
agencies was on 2 May, when their office in Minsk was raided. Secret service
officers made Henadz Barbarych to give explanations, but no police reports were
drawn up against the journalist. The seized equipment was returned a month
later.
Radio “Racja” has its headquarters in Poland. Founded by representatives of the
Belarusian diaspora in Poland and Belarusian journalists, it started
broadcasting in Belarus in 1999. The radio station suspended its activity for
three years in 2002. In
2006, the Belarusian Information Center was created in Bialystok and the work
of Radio Racja was resumed. The radio station broadcasts on FM and on the
Internet. Radio “Racja” journalists have to work illegally in Belarus
because the Ministry of Foreign Affairs repeatedly refused to give
accreditation to the radio station.
