(UPD) The case of independent journalist Volha Chaichyts has been tried today in the district court of Dzyarzhynsk. Judge Shayko inposed a fine of Br 5.4 mln (about $ 360). Another defendant, independent journalist Syarhei Kravchuk, is waiting for a trial at the moment.
“I had to prove my innocence. We managed to prove that the documents presented in court are not any evidence at all, but still, the judge has passed such sentence,” Volha Chaichyts told belsat.eu.
***
The journalist received subpoena in her mailbox. The hearing will be held on June 1 in Dzyarzhynski district court.
“In the story, for which I will be tried, I talk about police not letting our crew observe the public discussion of the Fanipal general plan thus violating the Constitution, which gives every person the right to collect and disseminate information. Besides, I am also a resident of Fanipal. In the story, I mentioned the name of the head of Fanipal police, who would not let us pass. No wonder that we have problems with them in Fanipal,” said Volha Chaichyts to Belsat.eu.
In early May, Volha Chaichyts was invited to the Fanipal police station, where she was charged under Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (working for foreign media without accreditation).
Her visit to the police had to do with the reportage about the public discussion of the construction project in Fanipal, which appeared at Belsat.eu.
The journalist also noticed that there is a witness mentioned in the case documents, he is one of the persons she had interviewed. In the story, his name is not mentioned, but the police found him. What they told him is unknown.
