English

Arche Editor in Chief Bulhakaw charged with offense, released

Valer Bulhakaw, editor in chief of the intellectual magazine Arche who was arrested during a book-launch event in Hrodna on Friday evening, was released about three hours later, after a charge sheet was drawn up against him.

As Mr. Bulhakaw told his wife by telephone, he was charged with illegal business activities, a minor civil offense. It is unclear when his trial will be held.

Police officers and tax inspectors burst into the room where a discussion of Yan Shumski`s "Sovietization of Western Belarus" and recent issues of Arche was taking place and ordered Mr. Bulhakaw to produce documents proving that he had the right to sell the book, according to the private weekly Nasha Niva.

Mr. Bulhakaw was then ordered to get into a police vehicle and driven away, presumably to a local tax office. A total of 194 copies of various titles were reportedly seized from him. Men in civilian clothes made a test purchase of "Sovietization of Western Belarus" shortly before the raid.

Mr. Bulhakaw was not available on the phone on Saturday. //BelaPAN