Minsk: Journalist fined for pictures of men celebrating Paratroopers’ Day in fountain

A fine of 490 Belarusian rubles ($245) has been imposed on Iryna Arakhouskaya for publishing her photo report on belsat.eu.

See the ‘paratrooper’ story in pictures in Minsk HERE.

The decision to fine the journalist under Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal production and distribution of media products) was passed by judge Ivan Kastsyan in Tsentralny district court of Minsk.

In early August, Belsat TV contributor Iryna Arakhouskaya and Naviny.by photographer Syarhei Balay found themselves in a surreal situation. Police major Dzmitry Shantyr stated that the journalists forced celebrating ex-paratroopers to get into a fountain. He also warned that a protocol would be drawn upon the authors of the photos featuring paratroopers in case of their appearing on Belsat.eu.

On August 2, paratroopers of some post-Soviet countries, including Belarus, mark Airborne Forces Day. Many of them follow the tradition by swimming and bathing in fountains.

• Airborne Forces Day in Moscow: NTV reporter punched in face live
• Russian paratroopers involved in Crimea annexation taking part in war game in Belarus
• Strange monument to Russian paratrooper appears in Brest

ЮВ, belsat.eu