Independent Journalist From Homel Will Be Judged In Three Areas Of Region

The first trial of Kanstantsin Zhukouski will be held in Kalinkavichy, Homel region.

The journalist was accused of illegal manufacture and distribution of media products. The basis for legal action was the TV spot about battering a guy from Zhytkavichy, that was broadcast by Belsat TV channel.

On December 28, Major Uladzimir Paulovich of Kalinkavichy police department drew up a protocol on the fact that Kanstantsin Zhukouski had taken people’s video commentaries.

In total at the end of 2015 and in early 2016, Zhukouski was called to three police departments – of Kalinkavichy, Karma and Vetka. In all the cases the police were talking about drawing up a protocol.

Since November 2015 Kanstantsin Zhukouski has been registered as a sole trader manufacturing informational materials, including video. Belarusian legislation and international agreements that our country has signed, guarantee citizens the right to gather and disseminate information. Accreditation of the Foreign Ministry is not required, as Zhukouski is not a staff member of a media outlet.

Last year, the journalist was the “champion” among freelance journalists sentenced to fines: they amounted to Br 31,5 million. District courts fined Zhukouski six times for allegedly illegal manufacturing of mass media products without accreditation for the channel, based on police protocols.

On January, 13 the court fined Homel journalist Larysa Schyrakova 22 basic units (Br 4,620,000) on the same article.