Journalist in Homieĺ convicted over story she didn’t shoot

On April 15, the Court of Homieĺ’s Centraĺny district heard the administrative charges brought against local journalists Kanstantsin Zhukouski and Larysa Shchyrakova. They were accused of violating Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code, illegal manufacture of media products. Both journalists reportedly ‘violated the law by working without accreditation for foreign media’. In particular, Kanstantsin Zhukouski and Larysa Shchyrakova were charged with making a story for the TV channel "Belsat" about refugees from Ukraine. A witness at the trial, Ala Smaliak, head of the local office of the Belarusian Red Cross Society, said that on February 18 the Red Cross hosted a meeting with a representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Jean Yves Bouchardy. The meeting was attended by several journalists, including Larysa Shchyrakova and Kanstantsin Zhukouski. Ms. Smaliak said Kanstantsin Zhukouski had interviewed her, while Larysa Shchyrakova only filmed Mr. Bouchardy.

To protest against the unjust trial and a ban on the collection and dissemination of information, Kanstantsin Zhukouski wore a bandage over his mouth and refused to testify in court.

Larysa Shchyrakova explained that she did not make the story for Belsat. She admitted that she was really present in the building of the Red Cross at the time of Jean Yves Bouchardy’s visit, but her goal was meeting with refugees from Ukraine. According to the freelancer, she did film several minutes of video, but then accidentally deleted the file from a flash card. During the screening of the story viewed in the courtroom, everyone could see Larysa Shchyrakova on the video. “High Court, how is it possible that I filmed the story and at the same time appeared on the video?” said the journalist.

As a result, Judge Piskunou ruled to fine both journalists to a fine of 7,350,000 rubles each.

Local human rights activist Leanid Sudalenka stresses that neither the officials nor the police said that the reports was untrue, they emphasized that freelancers were not allowed to shoot video at all.

Larysa Shchyrakova and Kanstantsin Zhukouski have been repeatedly fined for their professional activity. Kanstantsin Zhukouski has been fined to a total of more than 80 million of fines, which he is yet to pay under the threat of losing his property.