Journalist’s Property Distrained

On 25 March officer of Biaroza district court Alena Kurylovich seized property of Tamara Shchapiotkina, journalist of the Gazeta Dla Vas regional newspaper. The property was seized on the ground of the ruling made by Ivatsevichy district judge Uladzimir Verabei to secure the claim of Biaroza district prosecutor assistant V. Fedchanka. Fedchanka sued the Gazeta Dla Vas newspaper and its journalist Tamara Shchapiotkina for moral damages.
On 12 March the judge ruled to seize the property of the newspaper and the journalist. On the appeal of the newspaper’s lawyer the distrainment was annulled. On 24 March the court hearing did not take place because of the groundless absence of the plaintiff. The judge told Tamara Shchapiotkina her motion would not be satisfied and the property would be distrained until the court decision is made and executed.