State press publishes list of materials considered as extremist

03.10.2008. Tags: administrative trials, freedom of expression, mass media.
Source: Charter`97.

On 2 October 2 a state-run newspaper Zviazda published a list of ‘extremist’ materials.

According to the decision of Hrodna Kastrychnitski district court, the film A Lesson of Belarusian by Miroslaw Dembinski, and recording of the concert Solidarity with Belarus which was held in Warsaw on March 12, 2006, are extremist materials.

These materials, as well as 7 more CDs with pictures of events in Kastrychnitskaya Square, were confiscated from Mahiliou activist Ales Burakou who was on his way from Warsaw, Nasha Niva informs.

The decision came into force on 16 September. Burakou says that he hadn’t received any summons to the court, and knew nothing about the verdict.

The ‘extremism’ case had been initiated by Hrodna KGB. On 18 September the court considered the case on recognizing the printed materials, which had been confiscated by Hrodna customs officers in different years, as extremist production.

Nine persons are targeted in the investigation (now there could be more of them, as it turns out): a journalist Andrzei Pisalnik, a member of the United Civil Party Uladzimir Laryn, present and former students of Kalinouski program Yauhen Skrabutan, Aliaksei Trubkin, Dzmitry Malchyk, Barys Haretski, a human rights activist Valery Shchukin, Yury Martsinovich and Dzmitry Yodka.

Among other possible ‘extremist’ materials there are named a newspaper of the unrecognized Union of Poles in Belarus Głos znad Niemna na uchodźstwie, a book by Pavel Seviarynets Letters from the forest, materials of the First Congress of the Democratic Forces and many other materials.

The trial was postponed to October. As far as we know, none of the persons involved in a case has received repeat summons to appear in the court.