Homel journalist to be tried for work without accreditation

Larysa Shchyrakova was summoned to the Department of Internal Affairs where she got acquainted with two administrative protocols for work without accreditation.

Police accused the journalist of violating Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code (violation of order of mass media production) during the preparation of two plots for Belsat TV channel. Policemen say these protocols will be filed to court in the near future.

The trial of the journalist in a similar case filed against Shchyrakova on March 8 will be held on March 12 at 12:00 in the Homel Central District Court, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports.

A fine of Br9 million is the maximum penalty for every administrative case initiated against the journalist. Larysa Shchyrakova is sure she has not violated the law because of the constitutional right of free information collection and its dissemination.

It should be reminded that in January 2015 Shchyrakova and her colleague Kanstantyn Zhukouski were tried in Svetlahorsk allegedly for participation in unauthorized picket and fined Br900 thousand every. The journalists covered picket conducted by civil activist Yury Lyashenka, the disabled person of the first group. The police accused journalists of the fact that they allegedly participated in the picket.

Earlier she receives an official warning from the Prosecutor's Office for her professional activity without accreditation. Police have repeatedly prevented the journalist from doing her job by creating various obstacles, for example, by detaining her.

Last year police initiated at least 14 administrative cases for cooperation with foreign media without accreditation. This year three trials have already been held under Art. 22.9 of the Administrative Code.