Journalist stands trial in Brest

Yauhen Skrabets was detained on May 17 near the house where he lives. He told about this in a text message, saying that he was held in the Leninski district police department of Brest.

The police officers said that Skrabets was facing administrative charges for disorderly conduct and would spend the weekend in the temporary detention, and that the court was going to be held on May 19. The police refused to tell what exactly Yauhen Skrabets violated.

On March 31, Yauhen Skrabets received a prosecutor’s warning for working for foreign media without accreditation. However, the prosecutor's office refused to issue a copy of the official notice. In late April, ahead of the anniversary of the Chernobyl accident, Yauhen was summoned to the police for questioning. At first, he was told that he allegedly resembled a person who was involved in a fight that happened in Brest in February, but later questions concerning his cooperation with the Belarusian Radio Racyja.

This morning, the Leninski District Court of Brest opened the trial of Yauhen Skrabets.

At the beginning of the hearing, the journalist filed a motion for a lawyer. The judge decided to adjourn the trial till the morning of May 21 and released Skrabets.

However, the police officers who brought Skrabets to the court said that he was again under detention and took him to the police station.