Journalist fined for 'assistance in illicit production of media products'
This verdict was passed in the Homiel court upon the local journalist Larysa Shchyrakova.
On March 12, Homiel Central District Court judge Viktar Kazachok fined a local journalist Larysa Shchyrakova 3.6 million rubles (20 basic units). The reason was the police protocol where the journalist was accused of 'illegal manufacturing and distribution of media products'.
In reaching a decision, the judge agreed with Shchyrakova's arguments that the Administrative Code speaks about a legal entity - media outlet rather than a natural person. Therefore, in the judgment Kazachok made the reservation: 'for complicity in the illicit manufacture and distribution of media products', BelaPAN reports.
Policemen mentioned the fact that on January 13 Shchyrakova filmed entrepreneurs at the Central Market in Homiel. Later, the story about the entrepreneurs appeared on the TV channel Belsat. In this case, the journalist is not accredited as a correspondent for Belsat.
At the trial, Shchyrakova said she did not consider herself guilty of the offense, as she is neither full-time nor part-time correspondent of Belsat. She stated that she shot a video on the market and placed it on the YouTube channel online.
However, the judge found her guilty and she was fined.
Incidentally, there are two administrative protocols drawn against Shchyrakova - for making pictures of entrepreneurs at Rechytsa markets on March 10.
Photos - mediakritika.by
