Belarus: Independent News Agency TUT.BY Hit By New Criminal Probe
Location: Belarus
Date: October 8, 2021
Belarus authorities have launched yet another criminal investigation against independent news agency Tut.by. This latest case is the continuation of the persistent legal harassment the Coalition For Women In Journalism has observed against the free press and freedom of information in the country. The Investigative Committee of Belarus announced on October 7 that a number of Tut.by staff members are being investigated for inciting public disorder. The CFWIJ is concerned as no specific number nor names of journalists against whom authorities are taking action have been given. We demand law enforcement authorities stop targeting independent voices and stop engaging them in one case after another. This persistent legal harassment is extremely concerning for the free press to thrive in the country.
The suspected employees face up to 12 years in prison if charged with, state media reports. The leading independent outlet was shut down last May after a high-level crackdown against its employees at their homes and offices. At least 15 Tut.by employees were arrested on accusations of tax evasion. Till date, 11 of them remain in police custody or under house arrest.
Some of Tut.by staff created a new website to publish their work - Zerkalo.io - after the previous one was blocked. The website stated that the latest legal action against Tut.by staff could be retaliation against the new website. The network extensively covered public protests in August 2020, after controversial election results handed over power to Alyaksandr Lukashenka.
On May 18, Belarus authorities launched a high-level crackdown against Tut.by media under tax evasion charges. The website was blocked and editor-in-chief Marina Zolotova's residence was also raided. During the raid, authorities broke down her door and, as per eyewitnesses, there was a lot of chaotic noise. Lyudmila Chekina, Irina Rybalko, Marina Zolotova, Olga Loyko, Elena Tolkacheva, Darya Danilova are six, among other women journalists who were arrested.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the targeted legal harassment of Tut.by staff. We demand authorities to stop suppressing critical voices of the press and end their crackdown on press freedom. The CFWIJ extends solidarity to the journalists committed to working for freedom of expression. We insist that repressive measures against dissenting voices are stopped. There should be no threats to the freedom of the press.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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