Independent journalist fined three times in two months

Zhlobin district court punished a freelance journalist from Homiel Kanstantsin Zhukousky with a fine of 80 basic units for working without accreditation.

The journalist was accused of manufacturing media products without accreditation under Part 2 of Article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences. Zlobin police filed 2 protocols on the freelancer for 2 stories aired on “Belsat” under the title: “BMP without work and money” and “Sad farm creates parasites.”

The Homiel journalist noted that these videos have their authors, and he personally did not broadcast them.

In February, the freelancer was already punished: the Buda-Kashalyova district court sought from him 40 basic units – 8 million 400 thousand rubles. At the request of local residents ,the journalist filmed a video about the creamery and the problems of employees who were sent on vacation at their own expense.

On January 20, 2016, the court of the Karma district sentenced Zhukousky to a fine of 30 basic units (6 million 300 thousand rubles).

On January 14, 2016, the Kalinkavichy district court fined Zhukousky 35 basic units (7 million 350 thousand rubles) for violation of Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code.

Human Rights Organization “Amnesty International” in its report on human rights violations in Belarus, included Zhukousky an example of the prosecution of free media.