Independent journalist Tamara Shchapiotkina faces administrative charges

The administrative offense report written by the deputy chief of department of protection of public order of the Biaroza district police department Mikalai Prakurat says that Tamara Shchapiotkina violated Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code.

The charge stemmed from a publication posted on the website of Poland-based Radio Racyja. Meanwhile, the interview with local pharmacist Aleh Kaziupa did not mention the author’s name.

Among the images of four women shown to Aleh Kaziupa and head of secondary school No. 1 Mikalai Zhukovich, who was also interviewed by the journalist, they recognized Tamara Shchapiotkina. Only Kaziupa said that Shchapiotkina named herself Halina Vasilevich.

After reading the case file, the journalist refused to give explanations, using her constitutional right not to incriminate herself.

According to Tamara Shchapiotkina, the most outrageous and disgusting was a personal search in the lobby by a policeman who was in charge of registering visitors to the police station and taking personal belongings to the iron safe standing nearby. First, Tamara Shchapiotkina searched with a metal detector. Then a female officer was called, who first used a metal detector, then ordered to unbutton her coat and searched all the pocket and the shoes, and then asked the journalist to show her brassiere. Tamara Shchapiotkina declined the offer. Only after that she was admitted to the office of Mikalai Prakurat.

Now the journalist is awaiting to be summoned to the court.