Brest journalist tried in absentia

Brest's Maskouski district court heard an administrative case against Aliaksandr Liauchuk on March 26.

The journalist didn't receive a court summons. He also cannot learn what decision was taken at the trial, Viasna human rights centre reports.

The independent journalist was charged by Raman Trafimuk, a district police officer of Brest's Maskouski district police department, with violating part 2 of article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences. The ground for the charge was an article on the website of Belsat TV signed as “A.L.” According to Aliakksandr Liauchuk, the policeman had printed website pages and extracts from the Law on Mass Media. Raman Trafimchuk told the journalist that his authorship was confirmed by interviewees of the Brest freelancer and said that the trial would take place on March 26.

Aliaksandr Liachuk didn't receive a court summons. On March 26, he called the court of the Maskouski district of Brest and learnt that his case had already been heard in absentia. A representative of the court refused to say what court decision was taken on the phone.

Aliaksandr Liauchuk thinks he was issued a fine again, as it was at the end of last year, when Brest's Leninski district court fined him 40 penalty units (6 million rubles). The was found guilty of the “illegal production and distribution of media products” (part 2 of article 22.9 of the Code of Administrative Offences).