Brest Regional Court dismisses appeal by freelance journalist
Tamara Shchapiotkina
The Brest Regional Court has considered a cassation appeal by freelance journalist Tamara Shchapiotkina, who asked to cancel the decision of the court of Brest’s Lieninski district and send the case for retrial.
On April 27, Ms. Shchapiotkina was punished under Art. 22.9, Part 2 of the Administrative Code – illegal manufacture of media products – and fined 40 basic units. The administrative charges stemmed from an interview with a traffic policeman she allegedly made on January 8 for the Belarusian Radio Racyja.
Tamara Shchapiotkina’s lawyer provided evidence that on January 8 there was no such publication on Radio Racyja’s website. The lawyer drew attention to the testimony of three witnesses who argued that the journalist never approached the police officer. Despite this evidence, and despite confused testimony by the police Captain, Judge Natallia Surma ruled to uphold the verdict.
The journalist says she will appeal against the decision.
