[vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI1NjAlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjIzMTUlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGQ1ZtZmlyRmx4Z1UlMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvd2Z1bGxzY3JlZW4lM0UlM0MlMkZpZnJhbWUlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Freelance journalist Kanstantsin Zhukouski was told to come to the Mazyr police station and notified of a new administrative case “for the illegal production of media” launched against him.
Senior police inspector of the Mazyr police department, Major Aleg Vyargatski told Zhukouski on the telephone that a freelancer must come to him in Mazyr “to review the administrative proceedings under Part 2 of Article 22.9 – illegal production and distribution of media.” “Remember, you made a report on the distillery there?” asked the Major.
Zhukouski said he would not come, because the police would not pay for his ride.
“This attention to me from the “law enforcement” agencies is a purposeful harassment of me for my public activity and work related to the coverage of social issues, said Kanstantsin Zhukouski to Belsat.eu. – Through my activities and work, I must have very much harmed the representatives of mafia clans in power. Due to the fact that the persecution would not stop, I am asking the international community to pay attention to the situation related to the harassment of freelance journalists in Belarus. Against the background of the lifting of sanctions by the European Union, it looks like a mockery of the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens of Belarus, to me in particular! It’s nothing but an overt political persecution of me personally!”
This will be the 5th administrative process against Kanstantsin Zhukouski since the beginning of 2016.
On February 24, the Zhlobin District Court punished the independent journalist with a fine of 80 basic units (Br 16,8 million) based on the two protocols. He was charged with the manufacture of media products without media accreditation (Part 2 of Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences).
In February the court of Buda-Kashalyova district sought from him 40 basic units – Br 8,4 million. At the request of local residents, the journalist filmed there a video about the problems in the Creamery, whose workers were sent on vacation at their own expense. On 20 January, 2016 the Karma district court punished Zhukouski by a fine of 30 basic units (Br 6,3 mln).
On January 14, 2016, the Kalinkavichy district court fined Zhukouski 35 basic units (Br 7,350 million) for the violation of Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code.
In its report on human rights violations in Belarus, the International Organization Amnesty International used the prosecution of Zhukouski as an example.
Maksim Yarashevich, belsat.eu
