Zmitser Kazakevich

Affiliated media: Belsat, Freelance journalist

Incident date: March 17, 2021

Attack type:

• Court trial

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Vitsebsk

Additional information:

Two trials were held against Zmitser Kazakevich on the same day. The Pervomaysky District Court of Vitsebsk punished the freelance journalist with two maximum fines under Part 3 of Article 23.5 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Belarus — for violation of the law on mass media, that is, for cooperation with foreign media without accreditation. Judges Andrey Shydlousky and Veranika Barysava found Kazakevich guilty of illegal production of media products, in particular, two publications that were posted on the website belsat.eu in February 2021. The police reports stated that the author wrote the materials «abusing his rights and violating the duties of a journalist».