Belarus editor on trial, faces possible 5-year sentence - The New York Times

Photo by Dmytro Brushko, tut.by The editor of the largest independent news website in Belarus is on trial for professional malfeasance in a case that could bring her a five-year prison sentence if convicted, as The New York Times reported. Tut.by editor Marina Zolatava's trial began on Tuesday. She is charged in connection with other Tut journalists' obtaining the password of the state news agency Belta and using it to get unauthorized access to subscriber-only material. Prosecutors say the unauthorized access caused losses of about 70,000 rubles ($32,000) to Belta. Zolatava told the court that she does not admit guilt. News media are tightly controlled in authoritarian Belarus and independent journalists frequently come under official pressure. The New York Times