Not only independent trade unions, but also independent journalists are under the pressure of Belarusian authorities.
Dozens of trials and heavy fines, steady pressure and persecution are part of everyday life of many Belarusian journalists who tell the truth about the events in the country. The attention of security agencies and authorities is grabbed by Belsat TV contributors.
On Wednesday, freelance journalist and Belsat TV contributor Larysa Shchyrakova went in trial again. Her friends and supporters organized a flash mob in court. The journalist herself took garlic to ‘frighten evil forces away’.
They were holding placards ‘I cannot remain silent’ and ‘I collect and distribute information. I am the same as Larysa Shchyrakova’ and wearing face masks saying that it was ‘dead air’ in court.
The journalist was accused of illegal production and distribution of media products. Shchyrakova made a news story for Belsat TV about Homel authorities’ failed housing policy.
A heavy fine (BYN 805) was imposed on the journalist. The article is the same – working without accreditation.
This is the sixth administrative case against the independent journalist this year. In total, she has been fined more than $3,000 over the last three years.
Earlier this year, the police came to Larysa Shchyrakova to tell her that her 10-year-old son Svyataslau may be put in an orphanage. For being repeatedly brought to administrative responsibility over “illegal production and distribution of mass media materials” the journalist’s family may be included in the list of socially unstable.
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Belsat TV which has been broadcasting for nine years, has been denied accreditation for its journalists during these very nine years. The Belarusian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly declared that it could not issue any accreditation to Belsat because the journalists working for the TV station … break the law.
Thus, the circle closes: journalists are denied accreditation because they break the law and they break the law, because they work without accreditation that they seek… And it explains the existence of absurdist Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code, which provides punishment for ‘illegal production and distribution of media products’. If you have accreditation, you are allowed be a journalist. If you do not have it – you are outlawed.
Belsat.eu, photo by Hanna Kavalchuk
