Leaders of opposition website “Tut.by” sentenced to 12 years in Belarus
In particular, Zolotova and Chekina were found guilty of “tax evasion”.
Leaders of the main opposition website “Tut.by” have been sentenced in Belarus . Marina Zolotova and Lyudmila Chekina received 12 years in prison.
The Minsk City Court announced the verdict, Belta reports.
The case was initiated against the Tut By Media LLC, which since 2000 has been publishing the most independent publication in Belarus, the Tut.by website.
Zolotova and Chekina were found guilty of “tax evasion”, as well as “inciting hatred” and “calling” for actions directed against the national security of Belarus.
In addition to Zolotova and Chekina, Olga Loiko, the editor of the economics and politics department, Elena Tolkacheva, a correspondent, and Yekaterina Tkachenko, legal adviser, became defendants in the case. They were released from the pre-trial detention center on personal bail.
Recall that in Belarus has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Byalyatsky. The court said he was guilty of “smuggling” and “funding protests.” In particular, the human rights activist was accused of financing actions that violate public order.
