A trial initiated by the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) has started in the Supreme Court. The journalistic organization is trying to appeal the warning pronounced to it by the Ministry of Justice.
BAJ is represented by its chairperson Zhanna Litvina and her deputy Andrei Bastunets. The Ministry of Justice is represented by the Ministry’s consultant of the department for civil associations Alyaksandr Haryton. Ms. Skorabahataya represents the Office of the Public Prosecutor.
A representative of the Belarusian Helsinki Committee, lawyer Harry Pahanyaila, represents the civil community there. The judge announced a 10-minute break right after the hearing started: Pahanyaila asked for some time to get aquatinted with the materials of the case.
Journalists have been allowed to enter the court room but they are not allowed to take pictures or make video and audio reports.
Let us remind you that the Ministry of Justice warned the BAJ. The journalistic organization was accused of several things at a time – the warning concerned their membership certificates, the status of the Centre for mass media rights protection of the BAJ and some information presented on the organization’s website.
