Special proceedings initiated against blogger Anton Matolka under 13 criminal articles
In Belarus, blogger Anton Matolka was charged under 13 articles of the Criminal Code. The creator of Belaruski Hajun, a media project dedicated to covering the movement of Russian troops and military equipment in Belarus, and a former blogger-urbanist is accused of attempting to seize power, extremism, and high treason.
The case is conducted by the Investigative Committee within the so-called special procedings, i.e. in the absence of the accused. Fearing politically motivated persecution, Matolka left the country in 2020.
According to the Telegram channel «Special Proceedings. Official», Anton Matolka is charged with the following offenses:
- Article 357, Part 1 – Conspiracy or any other act committed to seize or retain the power of the State by unconstitutional means;
- Article 293, Part 1 – Organizing mass riots;
- Article 342, Part 1 – Organizing, preparing, or participating in actions that grossly violate public order;
- Article 130, Part 3 – Inciting racial, religious or social hatred;
- Article 361, Part 3 – Encouraging restrictive measures (sanctions) and other measures to harm the national security of the Republic of Belarus;
- Article 366, part 2 – Using violence against or threatening an official performing a public duty (against the President of the Republic of Belarus);
- Article 367, Part 2 – Libeling the President of the Republic of Belarus;
- Article 368, Parts 1 and 2 – Insulting the President of the Republic of Belarus;
- Article 369–1 – Discrediting the Republic of Belarus;
- Article 361–1, Parts 1 and 2 – Establishing or participating in an extremist formation;
- Article 361–2, Part 2 – Financing extremist activities;
- Article 361–2 (as amended by the Law of the Republic of Belarus of 20.04.2016 No. 358‑Z) – Providing money in any way to knowingly support extremist formation activities);
- Article 361–4, Part 2 – Promoting extremist activities;
- Article 356, Part 1 – High treason.
At least two of the articles involved carry penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment.
Anton Matolka was summoned to the Hrodna Region Department of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Belarus for the presentation of the case.
In March 2021, the Investigative Committee reported that the blogger had been placed on an interstate list of persons wanted by police. Matolka responded by saying that he was «ready to stand trial for all he’s done. In the New Belarus.»
On March 16, 2022, the Ministry of Interior of Belarus included «a group of citizens united around the Telegram channel Belaruski Hajun and the associated Telegram group in the list of extremist formations». The next day, on March 17, 2022, «a group of citizens united by the Telegram channel MotolkoPomogi» was added to the list of extremist formations.
In 2016, Anton Matolka received an award in the «Media/Journalist of the Year» category at the Champions of Civil Society competition held by the Assembly of Non-Governmental Organizations for his timely coverage of the non-governmental sector activities.