Three defendants don’t show up for Tut.by trial

January 9, BPN. Former Tut.by editor Volha Łojka, journalist Alena Tałkačova and lawyer Kaciaryna Tkačenka have not showed up for the first hearing in the trial against Tut By Media that has opened behind closed doors at the Minsk City Court.

They left Belarus and are currently abroad, a source said.

Editor in chief Maryna Zołatava and CEO Ludmila Čekina are present at the hearing. Judge Valancina Ziankievič presides over the proceedings.

Authorities accuse Čekina, Zołatava, Łojka and Tałkačova of tax evasion, inciting hatred and calling for sanctions. Tkačenka is charged with participation in protests.

In October 2022, the Committee for State Security (KGB) blacklisted all four as terrorists.

Tut By Media ran Tut.by, Belarus’ most popular news site.

Authorities arrested 15 Tut.by employees in May 2021. All except Čekina and Zołatava were released after agreeing to cooperate with investigators, according to the Investigative Committee. Nine defendants have asked Alaksandr Łukašenka for a pardon and “compensated the damages in full,” according to the Prosecutor General’s Office.

Darja Daniłava was sentenced to 16 months in prison and released in the courtroom, as she had spent about as much time in jail pending trial.

In June 2022, the Minsk Economic Court designated Tut By Media as an extremist organization, banning its activities in Belarus.