Journalists to stand trial in Svetlahorsk

On January 23, the Svetlahorsk District Court will consider the administrative charges brought against Homel journalists Larysa Schyrakova and Kanstantsin Zhukouski. They are accused of “violating the order of holding mass events” (Article 23.34 of the Administrative Code). The journalists covered a rally staged by an activist for the rights of people with disabilities Yury Liashenka. The disabled activist staged a picket in order to attract public attention to the problems of the disabled, breach of legislation on accessibility. The activist was detained by an ambulance and taken to hospital, where he faced administrative charges. Yury Liashenka was later sentenced to a fine for “violation of the order of holding mass events”.

Now local police decided to punish the journalists who covered this picket. “On January 21, we were interviewed at the police station, and on January 23 there will be a trial. I consider this revenge from local officials for the fact that we covered Yury Liashenka’s picket, and the public learned how the authorities of Svetlahorsk violate justice. The man in a wheelchair was grabbed by an ambulance, they actually kidnapped him, without his consent he was taken to hospital, they made him some injection. Of course, the government would like to make sure that no one knows about it, because such actions of officials and police are illegal. Incidentally, I wrote in my explanations that I ask to open a criminal investigation into the abduction of a person, Yury Liashenka, and to establish the identities of three persons who were present at the picket,” said Kanstantsin Zhukouski.