Journalist Alyaksandr Zdzvizhkou to be released
The decision has been taken by the Supreme Court of Belarus that has considered his appeal today. Let us remind you that Minsk City Court returned the former deputy editor-in-chief of the “Zhoda” newspaper guilty of arousing religious animosity and sentenced him to three years of imprisonment in December, 2007. Zdzvizkou allowed reprinting cartoons of Prophet Mohammed from the Danish press.
He has not pled guilty but claimed that the sentence was caused by persecution for religious reasons and sent a complaint to the Supreme Court. The European Parliament and international human rights defending organizations supported the idea of reconsidering the journalist’s sentence.
The panel of judges claimed that Zdzvizhkou was guilty but took into account other circumstances – his old mother and his health condition. As a result, the three years was exchanged for three months Zdzvizhkou had already served in the confinement cell during the investigation, informs “Nahsa Niva”.
Zdzvizhkou is in prison hospital now so he could not attend the hearing.
Photo by - Photo.ByMedia.net
He has not pled guilty but claimed that the sentence was caused by persecution for religious reasons and sent a complaint to the Supreme Court. The European Parliament and international human rights defending organizations supported the idea of reconsidering the journalist’s sentence.
The panel of judges claimed that Zdzvizhkou was guilty but took into account other circumstances – his old mother and his health condition. As a result, the three years was exchanged for three months Zdzvizhkou had already served in the confinement cell during the investigation, informs “Nahsa Niva”.
Zdzvizhkou is in prison hospital now so he could not attend the hearing.
Photo by - Photo.ByMedia.net
