Nine defendants in Tut.by case pardoned in Belarus
Nine defendants in the criminal “Tut.by case” about Tut By Media LLC’s tax evasion have been released from criminal responsibility, Belarusian edition Zerkalo.io reported on Sunday, April 16.
“The other day this story ended – we were forgiven (the petition was filed at the end of December). Thanks again to everyone who supported and cared,” wrote Sergey Povalishev, CEO of hoster.by, on his Facebook page. He was arrested in May 2021 on suspicion of involvement in tax evasion. The names of the others pardoned are unknown.
At the same time, in May, security forces carried out a search of Tut.by’s headquarters in Minsk and regional offices in Brest, Gomel, Vitebsk, Mogilev and Grodno, as well as the place of residence of some employees. In all, 15 people were arrested. The publication actively covered the mass protests in Belarus in 2020 and was the most visited media in the country. In May 2021, the Tut.by website was blocked and accounts frozen. During the year, parts of the detainees changed the containment measure, recalls Zerkalo.io.
Glavred and CEO of Tut.by sentenced in Minsk to 12 years in prison
In March of this year, Tut.by editor-in-chief Marina Zolotova and Tut By Media editor-general Lyudmila Chekina were sentenced to 12 years in prison for “publicly distributing materials calling for the seizure of state power and deliberate actions designed to incite enmity and discord.” Chekina was also found guilty of large-scale tax evasion.
His trial was held behind closed doors. In June 2022, Belarusian authorities recognized Tut.by as an extremist organization and the activities of the company publishing it in the country were banned. “Another attempt by the regime to kill honest journalism in Belarus. And personal revenge against wonderful women and great professionals”, commented the leader of the democratic forces of Belarus, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, about the verdict.
Source: DW
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