Belarus: Criminal Defamation Case Against Editor-in-Chief of Nasha Niva Must be Dropped

Yahor Martsinovich

The undersigned organisations call for the Belarusian authorities to drop their criminal defamation lawsuit against editor-in-chief of Nasha Niva, Yahor Martsinovich, and to immediately release him from custody.

On 23 September 2020, Yahor Martsinovich was taken to the Investigative Committee after his apartment had been searched by the police. His detention is linked to the Nasha Niva article where one of the interviewees claimed that he had been beaten in a detention centre by the deputy head of the Interior Ministry Alexander Barsukou. The police have started criminal proceedings against Martsinovich under Article 188 of the Criminal Code — defamation. Barsukou is recognised as a victim in the case. Martsinovich is regarded as responsible for the article as the editor-in-chief of Nasha Niva.

We consider that the Belarusian defamation and insult provisions allow the imposition of disproportionate penalties, fail to establish adequate defences and are excessively vague, and hence open to abuse. Public authorities, including police and public officials, should take no part in the initiation or prosecution of criminal defamation cases, regardless of the status of the party claiming to have been defamed, even if he or she is a senior public official. Penalties under this article of the Criminal Code include a fine or correctional labour for up to two years, arrest or restriction of liberty for up to three years.

Since the disputed presidential elections on 9 August 2020, journalists have been detained and intimidated over 200 times. We call on the Belarusian authorities to ensure that attacks against journalists and media workers stop and everyone detained is released without delay, including Yahor Martsinovich, and that the criminal lawsuit against him is dropped immediately.  Moreover, the criminal defamation law should be abolished without delay.

List of organisations supporting the statement:

  1. ARTICLE 19
  2. Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights
  3. European Federation of Journalists
  4. Belarusian Association of Journalists
  5. Free Press Unlimited
  6. European Centre for Press and Media Freedom
  7. International Media Support
  8. Index on Censorship
  9. Human Rights House Foundation
  10. Civil Rights Defenders
  11. Media Solidarity Belarus Campaign
  12. Public Association “Dignity”
  13. Human Rights Center ZMINA
  14. HR NGO “Citizens’ Watch”
  15. Center for Civil Liberties
  16. Legal Policy Research Centre
  17. Free Press for Eastern Europe
  18. People in Need/Center for Human Rights & Democracy
  19. DRA
  20. Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor
  21. The Barys Zvozskau Belarusian Human Rights House
  22. Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan
  23. Public Verdict Foundation
  24. Libereco Partnership for Human Rights
  25. Netherlands Helsinki Committee
  26. Press Club Poland
  27. Polish Association of Journalists
  28. Society of Journalists (Poland)
  29. Citizens Network Watchdog Poland
  30. Izba Wydawców Prasy
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