On March 23, Belsat TV contributor Yauhen Merkis was tried for ‘illegal production and distribution of media products in Savetski district court of Homiel.
A protocol was drawn upon the reporter (Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code) when he was covering the march of ‘non-parasites’ in Rahachou. Today the judge has imposed BYN 690 fine on him (appr. $370).
Protests in Rahachou
Yauhen Merkis livestreamed protest rallies in Vitsebsk and Homiel as well.
- Protests in Belarus: repression are live now
- Detentions live: Belarus police hunt for Belsat TV reporters (ENG video)
- Minsk: Plainclothes riot police abduct protesters from bus stop (video)
In February-March, there has been an eruption of protesting the so-called ‘parasite’ law in Belarus. About 200 Belarusians have been detained, fined, jailed after recent non-parasite marches. Last week, trials of participants were held in Minsk, Hrodna and Mahiliou. Most of them were accused of violating the order of holding mass events and disobedience to police officers’ demands. It should be noted that plainclothes policemen who refuse to show their IDs a or introduce themselves often beat people and prevented journalists from performing their professional duties.
Belarusian authorities are hunting for Belsat TV reporters (in English):
Threats, arrests, trials, fines: Massive attack on @Belsat_TV journos in March (ENG) #Belarus #Lukashenka @OSCE_RFoM @RSF_en #EU #Minsk pic.twitter.com/dXhAGekbuI
— Belsat in English (@Belsat_Eng) March 23, 2017
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