Journalist Andrei Mialeshka fined $550

Journalist Andrei Mialeshka from Hrodna was fined 40 penalty units (6 million rubles, or nearly $550) on December 2.

Charter97.org learnt it from the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ).

Judge of Hrodna's Leninski district court Yury Kazakevich found Andrei Mialeshka (in the picture) guilty of violating part 2 of article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences (illegal production and distribution of media products).

The case was heard in the judge's office from 10 to 11:30 a.m. No witnesses from the police appeared at the trial.

On November 13, an officer of the Leninski district police department of Hrodna phoned Mialeshka and said that a criminal case was opened against him. The police officer offered Mialeshka to visit the police department and give his explanations regarding his interview with professor Valery Charapitsa from the University of Hrodna, but Mialeshka said he needed an official summons.

It became known on November 20 that the case was sent to a court.

Mialeshka already received two fines for violating part 2 of article 22.9 this year. He was fined 30 penalty units (4.5 million rubles) in June and 35 penalty units (5.25 million rubles) in October. The reason was his articles on the website of Radio Racyja about a picket of doctors in Hrodna and the creation of a protected area.