Six journalists tried for covering protests on July 3

• 5.07.2011, 16:47

The press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) says six journalists stood trial after the protests actions in Belarus on July 3.

BAJ members from Hrodna Igor Bancer and Ales Dzyanisau were sentenced to 10 days of arrest.

Yury Humyanyuk was given 12 days, Andrei Fralou and Mikalai Dzyatchenya 3 days of arrest each. Hanna Illyina got 6 days of arrest.

Journalists from Hrodna were tried behind closed doors in a temporary detention facility of the Kastrychnitski district. Neither their colleagues nor relatives were admitted. Dzyanisau and Bancer went on hungry strike protesting against the court decision.

Journalist from Mahilou was tried for participating in a rally on July 3 and resistance to police.

Mikhail Karnevich from Hrodna, a Radio Svaboda correspondent detained on July 3, is to stand trial too. The trial over him began on July 4, but was postponed until July 6.

According to BAJ, as least 16 independent journalists were detained in different parts of Belarus on July 3.