Court sentences 'phone terrorists' in Baranavicy

By Ales Litoucyk

The European Radio for Belarus (Baranavicy)

A court in the town of Baranavicy recently issued a verdict to the telephone terrorists who would make false alarms about mining of the town hall and the town's police department.

The information about a bomb in the town hall was received on February 10. A drunken man called from his mobile phone and said the bomb was about to set off in the building.

But the alarm was not confirmed by rescuers. The "miner" was detained on the same day. He has been sentenced to 1 year of forced labor.

The second "terrorist" appeared in two weeks. He said he was angry after having called the police and being told to wait.

He felt offended and hang up the phone. Later he called again, named himself and said that the building of the police department was mined. He has been sentenced to a fine of $1.5 million ($750).