TUT.BY editor-in-chief's trial to begin on 12 February in Minsk
Maryna Zolatava / nn.by
The trial of TUT.BY Editor-in-Chief Maryna Zolatava is scheduled to begin on 12 February at Minsk’s Zavodski District Court. The hearing, presided by Judge Aliaksandr Petrash, may move to Maskouski District Court in the Belarus capital city because it has more space, reports TUT.by.
Zolatava remains the only person charged in the notorious ‘BELTA case.’ The other 14 media workers from various outlets were relieved of criminal prosecution and punished in the administrative proceedings. The journalists and editors were eventually fined and obligated to compensate the damages. The fine payments varied between BYN 3000 and BYN17000 (approximately $1500 and $8500).
15 editors and journalists from several media organizations in Belarus were charged with the unauthorized access to the paid newsfeed of state-run news agency BELTA.
Zolatava did not use unauthorized login to BELTA but was charged with the crime of omission. She is facing a fine or up to five years in prison.
The Investigative Committee had rejected two of Zolatava’s appeals to drop criminal charges.
