Belarus – Suspended sentencing of human rights journalist Ms Iryna Khalip, released in courtroom after 5 months in detention and house arrest

On 16 May 2011, the court of Zavodskoy district of Minsk found human rights journalist Ms Iryna Khalip guilty of violating part 1 of Article 342 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (taking part or organising the actions that violate public order) and sentenced her to 2 years in a penal colony. The court decided to suspend the sentence for 2 years, and she was released in the courtroom. Iryna Khalip was arrested on 19 December 2010 after a protest rally in Minsk following the presidential elections. She is a Belarusian journalist and correspondent for the Russian newspaper 'Novaya Gazeta'. In 2009 Iryna Khalip won the International Women's Media Foundation “Courage in Journalism” Award. In 2005, she was nominated by Time Magazine as a “Hero of Europe”. She is the wife of opposition Presidential candidate Mr Andrey Sannikov.

Following her arrest on 19 December 2010 she was detained at a KGB (State Security Agency) pre-trial detention facility where she had very limited access to her lawyer. On 29 January 2011 she was placed under house arrest and was denied any contact with the outside world. She was not even permitted to answer the telephone or read the newspaper. She was forbidden from having any contact with her relatives apart from her parents and three-year-old son. She was not allowed to write to her husband Andrei Sannikov who is being detained at KGB prison. On 14 May 2011, Andrei Sannikov was condemned to 5 years imprisonment for organising “mass disorder” under part 1 of Article 293 of the Criminal Code.

Front Line has previously issed Urgent Appeals concerning Iryna Khalip on 10 December 2009 and 20 January 2011.

Front Line believes that the sentencing of Iryna Khalip is directly related to her legitimate and peaceful work as a journalist in defence of human rights, particularly with regard to freedom of expression. Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of Iryna Khalip.

Front Line urges the authorities in Belarus to:

1. Overturn the sentence against human rights journalist Iryna Khalip, so that she can continue her legitimate and peaceful human rights activities;
2. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the security and physical and psychological integrity of Iryna Khalip and members of her family;
3. Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in Belarus are able to carry out their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions including judicial harassment.

To take action see our web at www.frontlinedefenders.org/act