Investigation into Poczobut's case extended until September 21

Investigation into the case of Hrodna-based journalist Andrzej Poczobut, a correspondent for Gazeta Wyborcza, has been extended until September 21 “to carry out additional investigative procedures”.

BelaPAN news agency received this information from Syarhei Shershanevich, an official representative of the Hrodna department of the Investigation Committee.

We remind the case was initiated over journalist's publications on independent websites.

The correspondent for Polish Gazeta Wyborcza was detained in his flat in Hrodna on June 21. The flat was searched and computers were seized. Andrzej Poczobut was thrown into a detention facility and released on his own recognizance on June 30.

The journalist does not admit his guilt and refuses to give evidence.

The Hrodna regional department of the Investigation Committee was reported in July to have been created an investigative team to investigate into the criminal case against Poczobut. The journalist has not received information about the course of investigative procedures since then. He thinks the investigation will be continued after the “parliamentary election”.

Human rights groups and the European Union condemn the Belarusian authorities for criminal prosecution of the journalist.