Anatol Lyabedzka summoned for questioning in prosecutor’s office

• 30.06.2009, 11:35

On June 27, chairman of the United Civil Party received a summons to the prosecutor’s office of the Tsentralny district in Minsk.

Chief investigator A. Nikalaeu wrote in the summons: “You must come to the prosecutor’s office of the Tsentralny district of Minsk at 9.00 a.m. on 24.06.2009,” the website ucpb.org reports.

“It’s hard to satisfy the desire of the prosecutor’s office, when a summons is delivered two days after the supposed meeting,” Anatol Lyabedzka told. According to him, it’s unclear from the document whether he will be questioned as a witness or as a suspected.

“Prosecution performs a special function in Belarus. It is a means of combating and suppressing dissent, so any surprises are possible,” the UCP leader thinks.

We remind that criminal cases under article 367 of the Criminal Code (libel against the president) were instigated against Anatol Lyabedzka in 2001 and 2004. The cases were consolidated and closed only this February. Last December, the General Prosecutor’s Office gave an official warning to Lyabedzka for preparation and publishing “Glotok Vozdukha” newspaper.