Independent Brest journalist Ales Lyauchuk is still on trial for the story filmed six months ago. The journalist is now trying to challenge the decision of the Brest court for the second time.
Last year, Belsat reported that the Shevchenko Street in Brest was repaired only in half, and the report said it was done in full. Our crew went there and filmed a story. For doing this policeman Raman Trafimuk drew a protocol on Ales Lyauchuk for “working without accreditation” (Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code).
At first the policeman could not properly draw up the protocol, but there was not time to redo it. Then Trafimuk filed a new protocol, but without the participation and signature of Lyauchuk. Despite this, the judge of the Brest court Raman Karaban sentenced the journalist to a fine of 25 basic units (612.5 BYN). This decision was canceled by the Brest Regional Court on April 12.
But on April 25, Lyauchuk received a message in Viber that he would be tried again on March 4 in the court of the Moscow district of Brest.
“As soon as I told Belsat about this kind of court summons, I was sent not only an ordinary classical paper docment, but also an SMS. But it’s illegal to summon via Viber, so my lawyer wrote complaints to the prosecutor’s office and the court chairman,” said Ales Lyauchuk.
As a result, on May 4, the judge of the Moscow District Court of Brest Raisa Labacheuskaya once again fined Ales Lyauchuk 25 basic units (612.5 BYN).
“Today I filed a complaint with the regional court, I’ll try to win again. This situation looks ridiculous, there are violations at every step. But the main thing is that thanks to this trial, the issue of stolen asphalt stolen on the Shevchenko Street is raised,” the journalist sums up.
