Officers of the KGB detained journalist Ivan Roman in Hrodna (west Belarus). Mr Roman is a member of the Belarusian Association of Journalists, a correspondent of Poland-based Belarusian Radio Racyja and an author of Magazyn Polski. The magazine is published by the Union of Poles which is unrecognized by the Belarusian authorities.

Mr Roman was given a written warning about responsibility for discrediting Belarus.

“I was told I can write only something positive, but if I gave negative information, it would be regarded as discrediting Belarus in foreign media,” the journalist told in an interview to Naša Niva.

According to him, the KGB officers were especially concerned over his articles about the economic state of the Belarusian enterprises.

Besides, he was told he had been under control since April 24, and he needed to make right conclusions.

Mr Roman was threatened with a criminal case for “discrediting the Republic of Belarus”. Article 369-1 "Discrediting the Republic of Belarus" of the Belarusian Criminal Code enables the authorities to imprison a Belarusian citizen for up to 2 years if he/she provides foreign bodies "with a deliberately wrong information on <…> situation of the Republic of Belarus, legal state of citizens in the Republic of Belarus, discrediting the Republic of Belarus or its authorities".

The article, though not adopted frequently, is considered a tool for the state to threaten journalists who dare to describe the real situation rather than actually defame Belarus.

State Security in odds with human rights

"Intimidation and psychological pressure" is a well-known method used by the State Security of Belarus, Viasna/Spring human rights defenders believe. Their colleague Viktar Sazonau is just one more example.

The Hrodna-based politician and a human rights defender was warned by KGB last week to stop his activities as an opposition activist. A criminal case for the "violation of public order" could be launched against him, the officers told.

They referred to Mr Sazonau’s participation in a recent manifestation, left, of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.