YouTube vlogger charged with assault of police officer over abusive comment

Volha Zhurauskaya, a Viciebsk-based blogger running a YouTube channel called “Shooting is Allowed”, has been charged with assault of an official (Art. 369 of the Criminal Code).

The charge stems from a blog comment that attacked a local police officer. The investigators argue that the comment constituted a “public assault of the official in act of duty.”

If found guilty, the vlogger may be sentenced to up to 3 years in prison.

Zhurauskaya claims that the comment was added by someone she didn’t know. She also says it was later deleted. Moreover, at the time, the channel had been hacked and the vlogger couldn’t access the blog.

The blogger’s apartment was searched and the police took her computer and video camera.

“The investigator said there was an order. So, it looks like they will dig around. It’s not for sure, but I think they want to punish me,” Volha said to vitebskspring.org.