Verdict in the “Tut.by case”: the regime’s attempt to kill journalism
Punishment for “the desire not to take away the freedom of Belarusians”, “cruel revenge for the truth”, “attempt to kill honest journalism” – this is how Belarus commented on the sentence to the general director of the TUTS BY MEDIA company Lyudmila Chekina and the editor-in-chief of the Tut.by portal Marina Zolotova.
On 17 March, the Minsk City Court sentenced the two women to maximum sentences of 12 years in prison. They were accused of tax evasion, incitement to social hatred and discord, and a threat to Belarus’ national security. The criminal case against the leaders of the most famous Belarusian media has been considered since January 9, 2023 behind closed doors.
Almost no details about the trial are known. Judging by the court footage, the two women were handcuffed during the verdict announcement. Chekina and Zolotova were recognized as political prisoners. In turn, the Belarusian KGB included them in the list of “terrorists”.
“We decided to break the mirror and not correct the terrible reality”
“The case against Tut.by and the verdict against colleagues is cruel revenge for the truth that Tut.by conveyed to millions of people. Its dictators are very afraid of this,” said Boris Haretsky, deputy head of the Belarusian Association of Journalists. – “The authorities decided to break the mirror, and not correct the terrible Belarusian reality, which is accurately and professionally reflected in it.”
The BAJ demanded that the verdict be overturned and that Marina Zolotova, Lyudmila Chekina and all 36 media representatives currently jailed in Belarus be released immediately.
Tikhanovskaya: “Personal revenge against great professionals”
“Another attempt by the regime to kill honest journalism in Belarus. And personal revenge against wonderful women and great professionals,” said the leader of Belarus’ democratic forces, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. “Those Marina and Mila hired, taught, continue their work… And I have no doubt that Mila and Marina’s values will win out, and will finally be spread.”
After the verdict, the former Tutbayevs from the Zerkala team wrote a letter to their beloved former leaders: “I want to believe that you are proud of us – people who did not betray their ideals and continue their great work,” it says. We love you and we are waiting for you. Freedom, which you were deprived of, no matter how paradoxical it sounds, because of your desire not to allow it to be taken away from Belarusians.
“I am shocked that Lyudmila Chekina has been unjustly sentenced to such a long prison term,” Tessa Ganserer, a Bundestag member of the Green Party, who took over Lyudmila Chekina’s sponsorship, told DW. “We cannot accept this. I will do my best to secure Ludmila’s immediate release. I wish Lyudmila and her family a lot of strength, ”said the symbolic“ godmother ”of the political prisoner.
Why did Tut.by piss off the authorities so much?
A month before the defeat, Tut.bu covered 63% of the Belarusian Internet audience, it was the most visited media in the country. “In all of Central and Eastern Europe, there were no analogues in terms of coverage,” says Kirill Voloshin, co-founder of the Tut.by portal. He managed to go abroad.
According to him, the Belarusian authorities have always had a desire to control the influential media and attempts to interfere in editorial policy were made until 2020. “During the protests, Tut.by became a mouthpiece for the opinion of people who do not agree with the falsification of elections, the illegality of the security forces,” Voloshin said. The authorities decided to accuse the journalists of heating and directing the protests and destroying the portal.
Belarusian media have been under pressure over the years of Lukashenka’s rule. But no one was prepared for such a defeat, a ban on the profession and the scope of repression, as after 2020. “Nobody expected that it would be possible to arrest NGO workers, doctors, psychologists, airsoft players… But they started with the media,” said Voloshin .
How the “Tut.by case” started and changed
On May 18, 2021, the security forces went to the home of the company’s employees and partners, to the Tut.by offices in Belarus. A criminal case was initiated for tax evasion on an especially large scale. Supposedly, being a resident of the Hi-Tech Park, the company “TUT BY MEDIA” earned revenue for about a year, without being entitled to them.
15 people were arrested in the tax process. After some time, the company paid the damage calculated by the investigation – more than 1 million and 120 thousand euros. 9 defendants in the “Tut.by case” filed petitions for exemption from criminal liability, their cases did not reach the court. But five officials also had “political” articles – about incitement to hatred, participation in protests. The portal, which has been operating for over 20 years, has been called an extremist organization.
Editor Olga Loiko and journalist Yelena Tolkacheva had their preventive measure changed and released from the pre-trial detention center. They went abroad and are now on the wanted list, as is lawyer Ekaterina Tkachenko. Lyudmila Chekina and Marina Zolotova have been in a pre-trial detention center since their arrest. “Marina personifies the editorial policy of the media. It was uncompromising journalism, but what is most important for the authorities is not controlled by them,” believes Kirill Voloshin, specifying that it was the aim of the authorities to punish the leaders so cruelly.
There was almost no connection with Zolotova and Chekina. “During the detention there were health and vision issues. As far as I know, it was possible to transfer the necessary medicines. We know that they are holding up. According to the people who were in court, they smile, wave their hands showing “hearts”. are very strong, although we knew about this even before the defeat of Tut.by, “says Voloshin.
“Tut.by was a feedback tool for authorities and society”
To some extent, Tut.by has an “heir” – the site “Zerkalo”, where former employees of the portal work. Almost nothing remains of the once huge and profitable company “HERE BY MEDIA”. “It is in the process of liquidation, assets are being sold, almost 300 employees have been laid off. Taxes and so-called fines have been paid,” says the co-founder of Tut.by.
When Tut.by was recognized as an extremist organization, both the logo and all products became “extremist”. “Since 2000, hundreds of thousands of photos, videos, texts have been collected on the portal. Many had historical value, depicting the 21 years of independence. It was also a feedback tool for authorities and society,” says Voloshin. According to him, there was a community around the portal – a thinking, active audience, he raised a lot of money for charity, he was a large element of civil society.
Source: DW
Anna White is a journalist at 247 News Reel, where she writes on world news and current events. She is known for her insightful analysis and compelling storytelling. Anna’s articles have been widely read and shared, earning her a reputation as a talented and respected journalist. She delivers in-depth and accurate understanding of the world’s most pressing issues.