Journalists Chaychyts and Krauchuk fined 5.4 million rubles each
The decision was taken by the court of Dzyarzhynsky rayon on Monday.
On Monday, June 1, the court of Dzyarzhynsky rayon fined the journalists Volha Chaychyts and Syarhei Krauchuk 5 million 400 thousand Belarusian rubles each. They were accused of "illegal manufacture and distribution of media products." The basis for drawing up administrative reports became the reportage from Fanipal (Dzerzhinsky district) featuring the story of the TV crew not allowed into the public discussion of the general plan for the city. The police printed the text and images of the reportage from the TV channel Belsat and accused journalists of working without accreditation for foreign media.
According to the site baj.by, Volha Chaychyts said in court that she did collect the information, but did not publish it on the Belsat website. Therefore, she believes the charges of "producing and distributing media products" are inappropriate. However, Ms Chaychyts and Mr Kravchuk were indeed fined.
About 20 journalists came to Dzyarzhynsk to support their colleagues, including the Chairman of the Belarusian Association of Journalists Andrei Bastunets, Deputy Chairman Mikhail Yanchuk and press-secretary of the organization Barys Haretski.
Photo Barys Haretski, baj.by
