Freelance journalist Dzmitry Lupach to be tried on July 23

The trial of freelance journalist Dzmitry Lupach will be held at the Hlubokaye District Court.

According to preliminary data, the charges will be heard by Judge Stanislau Trapuk, former chairman of the District Court. The judge earlier sent the offense report for revision to the police department.

The trial of independent journalist was scheduled for July 10, but it did not take place. On that day, Dzmitry Lupach was invited to the police department and asked to sign a separate document - that he has been told about the rights and duties of a person facing administrative proceedings. The administrative offense report drafted on June 26 did not mention that the journalist was read his rights.

Dzmitry Lupach is accused of violating the media law and Part 2 of Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal production and distribution of media products) for a publication on the website euroradio.fm of June 9.

While the administrative case wandered between the court and the police, representatives of the KGB persuaded him to cooperate. According to the journalist, they threatened to create trouble for his wife and son. Dzmitry Lupach told this to his colleagues, saying to the security officers that under no circumstances he will report any information that they asked for – his trips to Ukraine, contacts with foreigners, and the activities of opposition activists in the region.

Similar charges of violating media legislation (Part 2 of Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code (illegal production and distribution of media products) were also brought against freelance journalist Tatsiana Smotkina. Initially, the trial was scheduled for July 9, but it did not take place, as the documents were also returned to the police department. The date of the trial is not yet known.