Reporter Poczobut’s trial closed to public at prosecutor’s request

January 16, BPN. Judge Dźmitryj Bubienčyk has ruled to close the trial of reporter Andrzej Poczobut (Andrej Pačobut) to the public at the request of the prosecutor, the Viasna Human Rights Center reported.

Poczobut’s family members and several activists were ordered to leave the courtroom.

The trial, which had been postponed several times, opened at the Hrodna Regional Court at 10:30 a.m. on January 16.

Authorities have been holding the journalist and activist of the Union of Poles in Belarus in custody since March 2021. He is charged with inciting hatred and calling for sanctions against Belarus.

Last autumn, Poczobut refused to petition Alaksandr Łukašenka for pardon. The Committee for State Security (KGB) put him on the list of “persons involved in terrorist activities.” Of five defendants in the case, Poczobut is the only one to remain in custody.