Brest Freelancer Defends His Right To Journalize

• 23.08.2018, 16:57

Journalist-freelancer Yauhen Skrebets has filed a complaint with the court.

Journalist-freelancer from Brest Yauhen Skrebets defends his right to journalize. In August, the Luninets court fined him by 20 basic units for the material that had been posted on the Radio Racyja website.

The journalist was tried under Article 22.9 of the Administrative Code for work on foreign media without accreditation. Now Yauhen Skrebets has filed a complaint with the Brest Regional Court:

– I considered that my guilt had not been proved, since I had worked as a freelance journalist, and not as a regular correspondent of foreign media. Another thing was that the dates in the protocol were wrong. They said that it happened on June 18, but in fact, this interview, if an interview can be considered an offense, was taken on June 14, and the trial was on August 15. Three month had passed, but usually, if one is not hold to answer for the administrative case within two months, then the case is to be closed in connection with the limitation period.

Moreover, the journalist draws attention in his complaint to the fact that following the court proceedings, the local Luninets newspaper published an article with the comment of the judge who tried the case, and according to lawyers, the judge has no right to comment for the media.