State press publishes list of “Extremist” materials

• 3.10.2008, 10:36

On October 2 the state-run newspaper “Zvyazda” 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.

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

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

As we have informed, the “extremism” case had been initiated by Hrodna KGB. On September 18 consideration of the case of recognizing printed materials extremist production, which was confiscated by Hrodna customs officers in different years.

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

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

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