A Homiel court imposed BYN 115 fine on freelance journalist Yauhen Merkis on Tuesday.
Judge Syarhei Novikau found him guilty of hooliganism. Belsat TV was livestreaming the trial.
On April 30, Homiel law enforcers took him to Navabelitski district police station and then – to the temporary detention center. According to them, Yauhen was swearing in public. Police Yauhen planned to cover the sanctioned rally that Homiel opposition activists were to hold on May Day.
“He was detained when we were on patrol in Ilyich street. He was using bad language, we made a remark to him, but he failed to react and continued. There were children, men, women. He was swearing in Russian,” a policeman withnessed in court.
“We saw a man who was talking to himself and using foul language. We made a remark to him, but he cursed again. We put him in a car and drove to the police station,” another police officer gave evidence against Merkis.
“On my way home, riot police (OMON) stopped me and said that I was swearing. I never use foul language <…> I believe their testimony to be false. Every day I use the Belarusian language, I do not even know how one can swear in Belarusian,” the journalist stressed.
“Homiel authorities were concerned about the fact that I was to cover the rally on May 1, that is the reason why I was detained. But still, they failed to twartour work. Taking into account the sad experience of my colleagues, I was ready for such an attempt to prevent me from working on May, 1,” Yauhen said after the trial.
The journalist was repeatedly fined for the so-called ‘illegal production of media products’, in particular for covering the march of ‘non-parasites’ in Rahachou and nterviewed MP Ihar Marzalyuk during the protests in Mahiliou. He livestreamed protest rallies in Vitsebsk, Pinsk and Homiel as well..
Belsat TV live stream of May day protest rally in Homiel
On May 1, journalists Maryna Drabysheuskaya and Larysa Shchyrakova were detained after the sanctioned rally in Homiel. The both women were charged with an offence under Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code ‘Violation of mass media legislation’.
Belsat.eu
