KGB and the police continued to harass independent journalist Ales Lyauchuk. On June 23, in the Leninsky rayon police department police drew up a report on the journalist for an interview with the player Raman Vasilyuk, and on June 24, the reporter learned that a new administrative case was being prepared against him.
Ales Lyauchuk was charged under Part 2 of Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences (“illegal production and distribution of media products”). This time the cause was a material which had a great response. It was about the religious conflict that erupted in the Bielavezhski agrotown near Brest.
Due to the resonance in the media, the conflict was resolved. It was Iryna Niherysh that became a witness who provided evidence against the journalist. She is a chairwoman of the Kamenetz District Council of Deputies. Earlier, she gave a small interview to Mr. Lyauchuk.
“It is obvious for me that Belarusian authorities are trying to stifle independent journalists and to somehow replenish the cofferes emptied during the reign of Lukashenka,” said Ales Lyauchuk in an interview with Belsat.eu. – But currently I am not aware of journalists fearing authorities who violate their rights. I see this as a manifestation of fear on their part. The bell already tolls for them. Soon, they will have to answer for breaking the law.”
The journalist said: “It is important that I will be tried for one of my best materials, which really helped to solve the problem. After I did it, I received a lot of gratitude from the people, and complete strangers approached me, because Belsat really helps people to solve their problems. The authorities are forced to consider it, and this is why they retaliate so meanly by illegally taxing our profession.”
This is already the fourth case against journalist Ales Lyauchuk from Brest. On June 26, he will be tried for his interview with the player Raman Vasilyuk. At the same time the police has no evidence that it was Mr Lyauchuk who made this interview for Belsat.
“On Friday, I will prove that in Belarus you can be tried even if you’re doing stuff for the accredited media outlet,” said the journalist.
Earlier, Ales Lyauchuk was already persecuted for cooperation with Belsat. The first trial took place in December 2014 – part 2 of Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (“illegal production and distribution of media products”). Then the trial was held with numerous violations. Judge Larysa Nazaranka fined journalist Br 6 million.
In March 2015, the judge Raman Karaban fined Ales Lyauchuk nearly Br 4 million for cooperation with Belsat.
In 2015, independent journalists in Belarus were fined for “illegal production and distribution of media products” for the amount of Br 108,18 mln.
