Court explains fine for beaten journalist

Journalist of the portal tut.by Pavel Dabravolski has received the reasoning part of the sentence.

As was previously reported, on January 25, the journalist was beaten in the hallway of the Frunze district court of Minsk. There he tried to film the detention of activists protesting against political repressions in Belarus. The policemen beat both the activists, and the journalist. Two protocols were filed on Dabravolski -- for using foul language and disobedience to lawful demands of an official. The court sentenced him to a fine of 9,450,000 rubles (45 basic units).

In the reasoning of the judgment the judge Yarokhina refered to the policemen's testimony. According to them, the journalist jumped on the policeman, who was leading the activists from the court room. He allegedly grabbed the policeman by the collar, pulled him over and "was swearing against the authorities and the police."

Dabravolski said that the police grabbed the camera and press card from him and started beating him. "Then I had my hands put behind my back, and one of the law enforcement officers put his foot on my face," the journalist said.

Dabravolski is going to appeal the court decision.