Stas Pochobut, Belarussian anarchist from Grodno, singer of punk rock band "Deviation" is in a hungerstrike to protest 10 days prison sentence he received last Friday after having protested against closing a regional oppositional paper Pahonia.
In e-mail which Stas wrote last week, he states that "Pahonia is far from being anarchists, but I remember very well when in 1996, after presidential degree (of Alexander Lukashenko - ed.) to ban information about actions of non-registered associations in media, they made a big article and interview about us (anarchists, who for sure never register - ed.)". And indeed, first charges procuror filed against the paper 27th of August 2001 were for printing an announcement of a non-registered organisation (in issue #40, 26th of October 2000). Later charges of libel against president in #36 were added, and this number was completely confiscated, as well as #37. Stas also wrote that much of the so-called "democratical opposition" has deserted the defence, and main work has been left for the anarchists to do. A court against Pahonia was last tuesday, but the result is not yet known. To be continued... below informations about the case by Radia Racyja, Poland. Navinki is a monthly of political satire, published in Minsk by a collective of anarchists and post-anarchists. ######## BAJ protests detention of thirteen journalists April 8, Radio Racyja Police in the western Belarusian city of Grodno on Friday detained 13 journalists, who stood up to protest criminal prosecution against two journalists - Mikola Markevich and Paval Mazeika - from the local private newspaper Pahonia, closed down by the authorities last November. The Grodno journalists - most of them being members of the Belarusian Association of Journalists staged three unauthorized pickets in support of their colleagues under the slogans: "Hands Off Markevich and Mazeika", "I Write The Truth About President, Too. Am I Next?" Mikola Markevich and Paval Mazeika are set to appear in court on Tuesday, 9 April on charges of slander against the Belarus president. Picket organizers had filed several applications to the local authorities requesting authorization to stage pickets, but the city administration rejected them all in breach of the Constitutional provisions which guarantee the right to freedom of expression. By having banned the pickets, authorities took up responsibility for the further development of the situation. During the pickets the following journalists were detained: Andrzej Pisalnik (Dien), Iryna Cherniavko (Belaruski Chas), Vitaut Rudnik (Thrid Sector magazine), Andrei Meleshka (Nasha Niva), Andrej Pachobut (Glos z nad Niemna), Alena Sinevich (Radio Racyja Bialystok) , Andrzej Kusjalcuk (freelancer), Julia Doroshkevich (Pahonia), Alexander Dvoretskov (freelancer), Alesia Sidliarevich (Pahonia), Olga Artemenko (Birza Infarmacyji), Dmitry Egorov (Barcnews), Stas Pachobut (Navinki). On Friday night nearly all detainees were subjected to administrative prosecution, receiving terms in jail or fines. Dmitry Egorov and Vitaut Rudnik - 3 days of arrest; Alexander Dvorestkov - 4 days of arrest; Stas Pachobut and Andrzej Pisalnik - 10 days of arrest; Andrei Meleshko - 8 days of arrest. Irina Cherniavka and Alena Sinevich were fined to 30 and 20 minimum salaries, correspondingly. Olga Artemenko and Andrzej Pachobut received warnings. Stas Pachobut went on a hunger-strike. Other journalists will be tried today, 8 April. The Belarusian Association of Journalists expressed decisive protest against administrative prosecution of journalists, emphasising that Article 33 in Belarus Constitution clearly sets out that everyone shall be guaranteed the freedom of opinion, believes and their free expression. The freedom of assembly, street rallies, demonstrations and pickets is set forth in Article 35 of Belarus Constitution. Article 21 in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Belarus is a party, recognizes the right to peaceful assemblies. BAJ protested against the continued pattern of attacks on the freedom of expression by the authorities in Belarus, and appealed to international community to join the protest.
