Police draw protocol on Belsat TV contributor for man-on-the-street interviewing

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Homiel-based independent journalist Kastus Zhukouski is charged with Illegal conducting public opinion surveys (part 4.1 of Article 9:29 of the Administrative Code of Belarus).

“On 21 June 2016, being Loyeu, Zhukouski was holding a public opinion poll the study,” the protocol drawn by police major A. Khichou says.

According to the document, the public opinion poll touched upon the geopolitical situation and was conducted by the journalist in the territory of Loyeu district without any proper accreditation. Then its results appeared on Belsat TV, the police state.

Journalists brutally detained – own fault

On June 21, a Belsat crew was working on a news story about the economic situation in the Belarusian town of Loyeu. The filming was interrupted by the policemen’s arrival. The both journalists were taken to the local police station, there Zhukouski was tortured.

A bit later, Kastus Zhukouski had battery-induced injuries verified and filed a complaint. Interior Minister Ihar Shunevich promised to check information about Loyeu policemen’s beating Zhukouski, but there has been no answer from the Minister by far.

Soon after the incident, four administrative offence reports were sent by post to Kastus Zhukouski and two – against his colleague Alyaksei Atroshchanka.

Kastus Zhukouski was charged with insulting two official representatives and the policeman who detained him (two reports); the third charge was for disobedience to the police officer (first deputy head Henadz Madzhara); the fourth charge was for minor hooliganism. According to the reports, Zhukouski shouted, uttered curses and through his actions demonstrated outright disrespect to the public. Alyaksei Atroshchanka was charged with insulting the officials and disobeying lawful police’s demands: he allegedly insulted the two women, official representatives, and then he refused to get into the police car to go to the police department.

Now, the charge on ‘illegal conducting public opinion polls’ has been added.

In 2016, Belsat TV contributor Kastus Zhukouski has been tried and fined many times. In its report on human rights violations in Belarus, the International Organization Amnesty International used his case as an example.

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