Tut.By

In March 2000, tech journalist Sergey Dmitriev posted on the forum of the newspaper Komp'yuternyye vesti (lit. "Computer News") that he had an idea to create a free Belarusian email service. The post attracted the attention of Yuri Zisser, then the head of the private enterprise "Nadezhnyye programmy". On March 15, 2000, they had their first personal meeting; this day is considered to be the start of Tut.By. Dmitriev invited two Komp'yuternyye vesti journalists, Andrey Kononovich and Kirill Voloshin, while Zisser invited Danil Rudenko, a first-year BSUIR student and programmer with experience in developing e-mail services and websites. Kononovich, Voloshin and Rudenko contributed to the launch of the project. The portal was named by Zisser's friend Nikolay Romanovsky, other variants were ‘holub.by’ and ‘busel.by’.{{cite web|language=ru|author=Korovaiko, A.|url=https://news.tut.by/it/149135.html|title=Юрий Зиссер: "Девять лет мы ориентируемся на Беларусь"|publisher=New Tut.by|date=2009-10-05|access-date=2020-07-10}}{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%BE%D1%82%D1%86%D1%83-tutby-15-%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82/a-2382544|title=Отцу tut.by 15 лет|trans-title=Tut.by Turns 15|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=2007-03-13|access-date=2020-07-10}} The founders wanted Tut.By to become the Belarusian equivalent of Yahoo! and copied its business model. Development started in July and was finished in autumn 2000.{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|p=53}}{{cite web|language=en|url=https://sudonull.com/post/228853-Yuri-Zisser-We-have-chosen-the-Yahoo-business-model|title=Yuri Zisser: "We have chosen the Yahoo business model"|publisher=Sudonull|date=2016-09-15|access-date=2020-07-08}}

Tut.By was launched on October 5, 2000, and within months it became the most visited site on {{ill|Bynet|be|Байнэт}}.{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BB-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B8%D0%B1%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%B5-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BF%D1%83%D0%BB%D1%8F%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD/a-2145706|title=Какой белорусский интернет-портал наиболее популярен?|trans-title=What Local News Portal Is Most Popular in Belarus?|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=2006-08-26|access-date=2020-07-10}} At first, it consisted of a free email service, news, weather forecast, currency rates, fuel prices, and a guest book. Later in 2000, a forum was added, and soon the Hoster.by hosting provider was registered. In 2000 Tut.By had more than 20,000 unique visitors daily,{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|pp=53–54}} and by April 2001, daily traffic reached 1.2 million visits. Yury Zisser was awarded the "Person of the Year on ByNet" title in 2002.

In January 2002, the E-commerce centre was launched to provide free and paid services in site development, design, promotion, hosting, and domain registration.{{cite web|language=ru|url=http://internet-reklama.by/c/%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B/%D0%B2%D1%81%D0%B5-%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8B/tut.by|title=Tut.by|publisher=Aviator|date=2012-05-30|access-date=2020-07-08}} In October 2002 the project became profitable, with around 75% of income received from Hosting.by services and only 25% from advertisements.{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://www.kv.by/archive/index2002202106.htm|title=Сколько Tut.By зарабатывает на интернет-рекламе|trans-title=How Much Tut.by Gets for Web Advertising|publisher=KV.by|date=2002|access-date=2020-07-08}} By the end of 2004, more than 30 theme sections were separated, including music, culture, and education. At the same time, Kirill Voloshin was awarded the "Person of the Year on ByNet" prize. In 2004 Marina Zolotova took the post of editor-in-chief.{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|pp=54–55}}

In the beginning, Tut.By functioned as a news aggregator, a digest with a strong shift to business and economics.{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|p=65}}{{sfn|Gradushko|2016|pp=264–265}} It published news from such agencies as Interfax, BelTA, and Kp.by.{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://marketing.by/novosti-rynka/konflikt-agentstva-interfaks-zapad-i-portala-tut-by-prinyal-publichnuyu-formu/|title=Конфликт агентства "Интерфакс-Запад" и портала TUT.by принял публичную форму|trans-title=Interfax and Tut.by Conflict to Go Public|publisher=Marketing.by|date=2009-10-07|access-date=2020-07-10}} In 2005, the marketplace Shop.tut.by was launched, then followed by a Finance section with data on currency rates, savings, credits, and personal finance management service. At the end of 2006, Tut.By launched an IT department, and a year later, a web-journals section was added. The company had 18 employees then. In the same year, 85% of annual revenue was brought by advertising, with the rest brought by hosting services.{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://habr.com/ru/post/4285/|title=Юрий Зиссер: "Мы выбрали бизнес-модель Yahoo"|publisher=Habr|date=2006-08-15|access-date=2020-07-08}} In December 2007 the portal launched its radio.{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|pp=53–54}}{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://www.dw.com/ru/%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BE-%D0%B2-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%D0%B5/a-2999776|title=Радио в Байнете|publisher= Deutsche Welle|date=2007-12-11|access-date=2020-07-10}}{{sfn|Gradushko|2016|p=264}}

In February 2008, I.tut.by for personal communication was launched, uniting all the existing social services of Tut.By.{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://p.dw.com/p/DDoC|title="Тутэйшая" социальная сеть|trans-title=’Tut’ Social Network|publisher=Deutsche Welle|date=2008-02-26|access-date=2020-07-10}} By 2013, it had more than 246,000 registered users.{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|p=117}}

In 2009, Tut.By went international. In collaboration with Russian and Kazakhstan partners, it launched the Nur.kz news portal.{{cite web|language=ru|url=https://naviny.by/rubrics/computer/2011/10/05/ic_articles_128_175344|title=11 лет назад на TUT.by зашли первые 400 посетителей|publisher=Naviny|date=2011-10-05|access-date=2020-07-08}} From 2010 to 2012, similar partnerships were made with Azerbaijan (Day.az), Uzbekistan (Olam.az), and Nigeria (Naij.com). Naji.com soon grew to 250,000 unique users and its Facebook page gained 0.5 million subscribers.{{sfn|Gradushko|2016|p=264}}

In the 2010s, the company continued its rapid development. By 2011 the staff grew to 50 extrabudgetary and 90 office workers. The mobile site version was launched and soon had more than 19,000 unique visitors per day.{{sfn|Gradushko|2016|p=264}} In 2012, Alexander Chekan [https://www.startupgrind.com/events/details/startup-grind-minsk-presents-alexander-chekan-aleksandr-chekan-tutby-ceo-generalnyi-direktor/ becomes] the CEO of Tut.by. And already in Autumn 2012, the marketplace was launched. In 2013, the first regional office was opened in Gomel.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = http://mediakritika.by/news/1608/tutby-otkryl-v-gomele-regionalnoe-predstavitelstvo

|title = TUT.by открыл в Гомеле региональное представительство

|trans-title=Tut.by to Open Second Office in Gomel

|publisher = Mediakritika

|date = 2013-10-29

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} As of 2013, Tut.by homepage got 503,000 unique visitors daily,{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|p=55}} in 2014 Tut.by had 47.89% of all audience on ByNet.{{sfn|Doroshevich|Sokolova|2016|p=151}}

By 2015, forums at Tut.by accumulated more than 240,000 threads and 16.5 mln posts.{{cite news

|language = ru

|url = http://mediakritika.by/article/2790/otvetstvennost-smi-za-kommentarii-na-sayte-kak-ne-poluchit-krasnuyu-kartochku

|title = Ответственность СМИ за комментарии на сайте: как не получить "красную карточку"

|newspaper = Mediakritika.by

|trans-title=Media and Responsibility for User Comments

|publisher =Mediakritika

|date = 2015-01-28

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} In 2015, the catalog of Belarusian enterprises was separated into an independent editors office and received a new name Tam.by (wordplay ‘Tut’ lit. meaning ‘Here’ and ‘Tam’ meaning ‘There’).{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.kv.by/content/337556-novosti-tut-kompanii-tam-proekt-katalog-tutby-obyavlyaet-o-rebrendinge-i-vykhode-pod-

|title = "Новости ТУТ, а компании ТАМ": проект каталог TUT.BY объявляет о ребрендинге и выходе под новым брендом TAM.BY

|trans-title= “News on Tut.by, Companies on Tam.by”: Ta.by to Rebrand and Separate

|publisher = KV.by

|date = 2015-08-25

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}

In 2016, Tut.by had more than 780.000 unique visitors daily and more than 7.7 mln views, its staff almost reached 300 employees.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/ungc-production/attachments/cop_2017/385851/original/TUT.BY_Sustainability_report_UNO_2016.pdf?1495205136

|title = Sustainability report belarussian portal TUT.BY

|publisher = Tut.by

|date = 2016

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} That year on weekdays around 200 articles were published on the main page.{{sfn|Gradushko|2016|p=265}} I.Tut.by social network accumulated 150.000 registered users by 2016.{{sfn|Gradushko|2016|p=263}}

In 2017, TUT.BY was recognized as a well-known trademark in Belarus. It pioneered quality infographics on the ByNet, making this visualization tool an important part of the News section.{{sfn|Trushko|Shpakovsky|2018}} The company's public account on Viber became the most popular among other media and reached 285.000 subscribers.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://marketing.by/novosti-rynka/kak-viber-vybiraet-partnerov-rukovoditel-otdela-prodazh-viber-rasskazal-pro-osobennosti-sotrudniches/

|title = Как Viber выбирает партнеров? Руководитель отдела продаж Viber рассказал про особенности сотрудничества компании

|trans-title=How Viber Chooses Partnerships?

|publisher = Marketing.by

|date = 2017-08-11

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://marketing.by/novosti-rynka/ot-tut-by-do-onliner-by-kak-media-rabotayut-v-pablik-chatakh-viber-i-chto-im-eto-daet/

|title = От TUT.BY до Onliner.by. Как медиа работают в паблик аккаунтах Viber и что им это дает

|publisher = Marketing.by

|date = 2017-11-09

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{sfn|Zaitsev|2017|p=21}} In 2017, Rabota.tut.by had more than 155.000 active resumes and 19392 vacancies published.{{sfn|Klunya|Gerasimuk|2019|pp=9–10}} In March 2018, Belarusian audience of TUT.BY for the first overtook big online platforms like Yandex, Mail.Ru, and YouTube.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://marketing.by/novosti-rynka/tut-by-obognal-youtube-po-razmeru-auditorii-v-belarusi/%20overtook

|title = TUT.BY обогнал Youtube по размеру аудитории в Беларуси

|publisher = Marketing.by

|date = 2018-03-29

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}

As of 2019, more than 8.5 mln Tut.by pages were stored in Google index. More than 70% of users visited the site's mobile version{{sfn|Gradushko|2019|pp=169, 209}} According to Tut.by, in May 2019 a new record was set as news of all subdomains got 178 million views (web + apps, according to Yandex.Metrica).{{Cite web|url=https://tutby.com/news/5340.html|title=Новый рекорд у новостей TUT.BY|date=13 February 2019|website=tutby.com}}

The founder of Tut.by, Yury Zisser, passed away on May 17, 2020.{{cite web

|language = ru

|trans-title=Yury Zisser Dies at 60

|url = https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%83%D1%81%D0%B8-%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B5%D1%80-%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%8C-%D0%BF%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%82%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0-tutby-%D1%8E%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B9-%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%81%D0%B5%D1%80/a-53469711

|title =В Беларуси умер основатель портала Tut.by Юрий Зиссер

|publisher = Deutsche Welle

|date = 2020-05-17

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

On May 29, 2020, the site was DDoSed and down for several hours. The attack coincided in time with the arrest of blogger Sergey Tikhanovsky, who had recently announced his run for presidency.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/22/belarus-activists-journalists-jailed-election-looms

|title = Belarus: Activists, Journalists Jailed as Election Looms

|publisher = Human Rights Watch

|date = 2020-05-22

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://naviny.by/new/20200529/1590781956-portal-tutby-soobshchil-o-hakerskoy-atake

|title = Портал TUT.by сообщил о хакерской атаке

|trans-title=Hackers Attack Tut.by

|publisher = Naviny.by

|date = 2020-05-29

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

On August 9, 2020, the president of Belarus promised to punish tut.by for its election-related reporting, and the website went offline.{{Cite web|url=https://meduza.io/news/2020/08/09/lukashenko-poruchil-razobratsya-s-novostnym-portalom-tut-by-posle-stati-o-nablyudatelyah|title=Лукашенко поручил "разобраться" с новостным порталом tut.by после статьи о наблюдателях|website=Meduza}}

On 13 August 2021, tut.by and zerkalo.io and all their content were declared extremist by the Central district court of Minsk.

In June 2023, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus designated Zerkalo as an extremist formation.

In 2003, Tut.by established the Belarusian Content Projects Award for promising noncommercial websites. The competition significantly contributed to the development of independent media in ByNet.{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|p=17}}

Since 2012, Hoster.by has initiated domain name auctions. All the income is donated to orphanages across Belarus.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.dw.com/ru/20-%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82-%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BD%D0%B5%D1%82%D1%83-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BA-%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B6%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%8C-%D0%B8-%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%BA-%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8F%D0%BB%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%8C-%D0%B7%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B0-by/a-17608899

|title = 20 лет Байнету: как зарождалась и как менялась зона .by

|trans-title=ByNet Turns 20: .by Zone History

|publisher = Deutsche Welle

|date = 2014-05-05

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://hoster.by/clients/news/1013/

|title = Первый благотворительный аукцион доменов .BY стартует 1 октября

|trans-title=First Charity Auction to Start on the 1st of October

|publisher = Hoster.by

|date = 2012-08-30

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://news.mail.ru/economics/40651263/

|title = На вторичном рынке доменов в Беларуси оживление: на продажу выставили красивые имена

|trans-title=Domain Name Auctions on the Secondary Market of Belarus

|publisher = News Mail.ru

|date = 2020-02-19

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://digital-report.ru/hosting-provajdery-belarusi-vyskaza/

|title = Хостинг-провайдеры Беларуси высказали свое мнение об отмене срока защиты доменных имен от удаления

|publisher = Digital Report

|date = 2020-05-19

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

In August 2014, TUT.BY launched a non-commercial project BelarusFeed, targeted on the foreign audience who is interested in Belarus and wants to visit the country.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://zautra.by/news/news-24694

|title = 9 заметных белорусских проектов, которые объединили технологии и культуру

|trans-title=9 Important Belarusian Projects Uniting Technology and Culture

|publisher = Zavtra.by

|date = 2017-04-24

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://marketing.by/keysy/dushevnye-otkrytki-welcome-to-belarus-ot-tut-by-i-belarusfeed-/

|title =Душевные открытки "Welcome to Belarus" от TUT.BY и BelarusFeed

|trans-title=Welcome to Belarus Postcards by Tut.by and BelarusFeed

|publisher = Marketing.by

|date = 2017-03-16

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

In 2014, the company joined the UN Sustainable Development programme.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://tutby.com/news/5269.html

|title = TUT.BY выпустил Отчет об устойчивом развитии по итогам 2016 года

|publisher =Tut.by

|date = 2017-05-23

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} Since then the company annually published Sustainability reports on its initiatives in human rights and environment protection. In the same year TUT.BY and life:) mobile operator launched the Freebasics project, a joint initiative to ensure the availability of mobile Internet.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://bel.biz/in-the-lens/life-besplatnyj-dostup/

|title =life:) открывает бесплатный доступ к Facebook и TUT.BY для своих абонентов

|publisher = Belarusian Business

|date = 2017-04-13

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} TUT.BY supplied news for the project alongside Wikipedia, UN Women and others. Among other projects, TUT.BY and BelarusFeed created a collection of postcards “Welcome To Belarus”. The postcards were handed out to foreigners travelling to Belarus to mark the introduction of the 5 days visa-free entry.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = http://marketing.by/keysy/dushevnye-otkrytki-welcome-to-belarus-ot-tut-by-i-belarusfeed-/

|title = Много часов работы и толика души: 10 заметных белорусских проектов, которые объединили технологии и культуру

|trans-title=Hours of Work and a Piece of Soul: 10 Important Belarusian Project Uniting Technology and Culture

|publisher = Marketing.by

|date = 2017-04-18

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

In 2017, TUT.BY was among 30 Belarusian companies that signed the “Cooperation agreement of the socially responsible companies in Belarus in the implementation of corporate social responsibility projects”. The agreement was initiated by the local social fund Fond Dobra, part of the UN Global Compact Network Belarus.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://dobra.by/AoC171128

|title = Cooperation agreement of the socially responsible companies in Belarus in the implementation of corporate social responsibility projects

|publisher = Dobra.by

|date = 2017

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} In November 2018, TUT.BY became the info partner in the II European Games 2019.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://news.21.by/other-news/2018/11/16/1656818.html

|title = TUT.BY стал информационным партнером II Европейских игр 2019 года в Минске

|trans-title=Tut.by to Become an Info Partner of II European Games 2019 in Minsk

|publisher = News 21 By

|date = 2018-11-16

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

In the late 2000s, the editors office decided to change course from news aggregator to independent journalism with its own texts, reports, and investigations. Though big agencies usually could publish the news instantly, Tut.by won his audience by giving the news with “a human touch”, without state censorship and in compliance with journalist ethics. Social issues and events with a public outcry were developed by Tut.by staff journalists and users could openly share their opinions via comments and on the site's forum.{{sfn|Gradushko|2013|pp=28–29}}{{sfn|Gradushko|2016|pp=264–265}}

On December 19, 2014, Tut.by was blocked in Belarus for several hours. Officially called DDoS attack, the blockage was actually a part of a massive strike against the country's independent media.{{sfn|Doroshevich|Sokolova|2014|pp=157–158}} In December 2014 the amendments to state Mass Media Act were issued, putting the responsibility for any comments on a website upon its owners. Consequently, Tut.by had to relocate its forums to a new domain name talks.by to avoid blockage for user comments.

On December 25, 2016, Tut.by journalist Pavel Dobrovolsky was beaten by police officers directly in the Frunzienski district court. Dobrovolsky was on professional duty, covering the hearing of the case of two graffiti artists.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.belgazeta.by/ru/news/society/32556/

|title = Павел Добровольский: "Это все одна система, но останавливаться я не намерен"

|trans-title=Pavel Dobrovolsky: It's a United System, but I Won't Stop

|publisher = Belgazeta

|date = 2016-03-02

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} OSCE called this situation unacceptable and called authorities to ensure the journalist's safety.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://www.euneighbours.eu/en/east/stay-informed/news/belarus-osce-representative-condemns-attack-journalist-and-calls

|title = Belarus: OSCE Representative condemns attack on journalist and calls on authorities to ensure media freedom

|publisher = European Union

|date = 2016-02-03

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} According to the portal analysis, at least three attacks on journalists happen in Belarus annually.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url =http://mediakritika.by/article/3610/tutby-podschital-zhurnalistov-v-belarusi-byut-v-srednem-po-tri-v-god

|title = TUT.by подсчитал: журналистов в Беларуси бьют, в среднем, по три в год

|trans-title=Tut.by Estimates: at Least 3 Attacks on Journalists in Belarus per Year

|publisher = Mediakritika

|date = 2016-01-29

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

In 2017, State Ministry of Information issued a warning to editors office for an article on Belarusian citizens who fought in the war in Donbas. Though the government itself acknowledged that at least 140 Belarusians took an active part in the fights, the article was called by the Ministry to be “threatening to the State's interests”. According to the Belarusian law, two official warnings in a year could lead to the site's blockage.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.sb.by/articles/gastarbaytery-voyny.html

|title = Белорусам, участвующим в чужой войне, на родине светит уголовная статья "Наемничество"

|publisher = Belarus Today

|date = 2016-02-10

|trans-title=Belarusians at Foreign Wars Could be Charged for Mercenary Activities at Home

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = http://mediakritika.by/article/4538/mininform-vynes-preduprezhdenie-portalu-tutby

|title = Мининформ вынес предупреждение порталу TUT.BY

|trans-title=Ministry of Information to Warn Tut.by

|publisher = Mediakritika

|date = 2017-03-17

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} In a 2017 interview, the founder of TUT.BY Yuri Zisser mentioned that there were serious issues with freedom of speech in Belarus and only gradual, civilized dialog with the government and much effort could turn the situation to the best.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.the-village.me/village/city/fav-space/263563-tut-i-tam

|title = "Если TUT.BY избавится от "желтизны", то не будет первым": интервью с Юрием Зиссером

|trans-title=Yury Zisser: Tut.by Has to be Yellow to be the First

|publisher =The Village Belarus

|date = 2017-10-17

|access-date = 2020-06-25

}} Zisser received the “Advocacy Leader 2016” award from the Assembly of business circles for his lasting effort to promote this dialogue between business and government.{{cite web

|language = ru

|author=Sverdlov, P.

|url = https://euroradio.fm/ru/zisser-krizis-zastavil-vlasti-prislushivatsya-k-biznesu

|title = Зиссер: Кризис заставил власти прислушиваться к бизнесу

|publisher = Europe Radio

|date = 2017-03-01

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

In 2018, the so-called BelTA case took place. In June 2018 the editor-in-chief Marina Zolotova and 14 other employees of Tut.by were arrested for alleged unauthorized access to information from a state news agency BelTA.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.dw.com/ru/%D0%B6%D1%83%D1%80%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82-%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B4-%D1%81%D1%83%D0%B4%D0%BE%D0%BC-%D0%BE%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%8C-%D1%81-%D0%BE%D0%B1%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D1%8F%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BE%D0%B9-%D0%BF%D0%BE-%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%83-%D0%B1%D0%B5%D0%BB%D1%82%D0%B0/a-47433852

|title = Журналист перед судом: один день с обвиняемой по "делу БелТА"

|publisher = Deutsche Welle

|date = 2019-02-11

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://baj.by/be/analytics/priletaet-ne-za-ostrye-stati-za-chto-zadenesh-imya-kakogo-chinovnika-bolshoe-intervyu

|title = Прилетает не за острые статьи, а за то, что заденешь имя какого-то чиновника — большое интервью Юрия Зиссера

|trans-title=Yury Zisser Big Interview

|publisher = Belarusian Association of Journalists

|date = 2019-05-17

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} All except Zolotova were released soon, who was charged under the Criminal Code.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://belarusfeed.com/verdict-belta-case-zolotova-guilty/

|title = BREAKING: Minsk Court Files Verdict In BelTA Case

|publisher = Belarus Feed

|date = 2019-03-04

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://belarusfeed.com/witnesses-testify-tutby-trial-goes-on/

|title = Witnesses Claim Pressure And Intimidation. TUT.BY vs BelTA Trial Goes On

|publisher = Belarus Feed

|date = 2019-02-15

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.the-village.me/village/city/news-city/269589-za-chto-zaderzhali-redaktorov?from=readmore

|title = Директор БелТА объяснила, за что задержали редакторов TUT.BY и "БелаПАН"

|trans-title=BelTa Director on Arrests of Tut.by and BelaPan Chief Editors

|publisher = The Village Minsk

|date = 2018-06-07

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}} OSCE Representative Harlem Désir called the case and massive fine to be ‘deeply alarming’,{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://belsat.eu/en/news/osce-reacted-to-requested-punishment-for-maryna-zolatava/

|title = OSCE reacts to punishment requested for Maryna Zolatava

|publisher = Belsat Eu

|date = 2019-02-27

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}} BAJ representative called it an intimidation signal for all independent journalists in Belarus.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://belsat.eu/ru/programs/marina-zolotova-vyigrala-u-belaruskogo-suda/

|title = Приговор Марине Золотовой – сигнал всем журналистам

|publisher = Belsat Eu

|date = 2019-03-04

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/08/world/europe/belarus-journalists-detained.html

|title = Belarus Detains 18 Journalists in Raids at Independent Outlets

|publisher = NY Times

|date = 2018-09-08

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}} The court sentenced Zolotova to a fine of 7,650 rubels.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.interfax.ru/world/652924

|title = Главреда tut.by приговорили к штрафу в $3,6 тыс. по "делу БелТА"

|trans-title=Tut.by Chief Editor Sentenced to $3.600 Fine

|publisher = Interfax

|date = 2019-03-04

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} Later Zolotova recalled how former Minister of information {{ill|Lilia Ananich|be-tarask|Лілія Ананіч}} invited directors of the leading independent media and advised them on the desired way to describe the economic situation in the country, asking not to “rock the boat”.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://bolshoi.by/culture/marina-zolotova-meeting/

|title = Марина Золотова: "Вы сами устроили себе фейк-ньюс. И что я должна с этим делать?"

|trans-title=Marina Zolotova: You Made Fake News Yourselves, What Can I Do?

|publisher = Bolshoi

|date = 2019-09-19

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}

On May 18, 2021, the authorities blocked Tut.by accusing it of publishing 'prohibited information', including the content about "unregistered" Belarus Solidarity Foundation (BYSOL). BYSOL is an organization that supports victims of repressions in Belarus. The officials raided Tut.by office and homes of the staff. On the same day a criminal case has been initiated, accusing the website of tax fraud.{{cite web

|language =en

|url = https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/18/tut-by-independent-belarus-media-website-blocked-after-series-of-raids

|title = TUT.BY: Independent Belarus media website blocked after series of raids

|publisher = Euronews

|date = 2021-05-18

|access-date = 2020-05-18

}}

On the same day 15 journalists, including Marina Zolotova, Anastasiya Prudnikava, Dzianis Burkouski, Maksim Pushkin, Ala Burkouskaya, were arrested and sent to the infamous Okrestina detention centre.{{cite web

|author=

|language =ru

|url = https://meduza.io/feature/2021/05/19/my-vse-svideteli-umyshlennogo-ubiystva-tut-by

|title = Мы все — свидетели умышленного убийства Tut.by

|trans-title= We All Witness Tut.by Murder

|publisher = Meduza

|date = 2021-05-19

|access-date = 2020-05-26

}}{{cite web

|language =ru

|url = https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/4816739

|title = Tut.by уже не тут

|trans-title= Tut.by Blocked by Authorities

|publisher = Kommersant

|date = 2021-05-18

|access-date = 2020-05-26

}} Yury Zisser's widow cultural scientist Yulia Chernyavskaya was also detained and soon found by journalists in the cardiovascular care unit of Minsk hospital.{{cite web

|language =ru

|url = https://baj.by/be/content/vdova-zissera-yuliya-chernyavskaya-pod-domashnim-arestom

|title = Вдова Зиссера Юлия Чернявская под домашним арестом

|trans-title = Home Arrest for Yury Zisser's Widow Yulia Chernyavskaya

|publisher = BAJ

|date = 2021-05-20

|access-date = 2020-05-26

}}{{cite web

|language =en

|url = https://cpj.org/2021/05/belarusian-authorities-briefly-detain-4-tut-by-journalists-at-least-13-staff-remain-in-custody/

|title = Belarusian authorities briefly detain 4 Tut.by journalists; at least 13 staff remain in custody

|publisher = CPJ

|date = 2020-05-25

|access-date = 2020-05-26

}} The tax fraud charges pressed on Tut.by and its employees are acknowledged as fabricated and pursue only the goal to further block independent media in the country.{{cite web

|language =ru

|url = https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/05/26/world/belarus-opposition-media/

|title = Death threats and arrests: Belarus opposition media struggles at home and abroad

|publisher = The Japan Times

|date = 2021-05-26

|access-date = 2020-05-26

}}{{cite web

|language =en

|url = https://time.com/6050850/belarus-lukashenko-protasevich-tikhanovskaya/

|title = Belarus's Exiled Opposition Leader Says President Lukashenko Is Operating With 'Impunity' After Journalist Arrest

|publisher = TIME

|date = 2021-05-24

|access-date = 2020-05-26

}}

On August 13, 2021, Tut.by, as well as its project, Zerkalo.io, were declared 'extremist' by the court ruling.{{Cite web|title=Белорусский суд признал экстремистским заблокированный сайт Tut.by. А также Zerkalo.io — новый проект бывшей команды Tut.by|url=https://meduza.io/news/2021/08/13/belorusskiy-sud-priznal-ekstremistskim-zablokirovannyy-sayt-tut-by-a-takzhe-zerkalo-io-novyy-proekt-byvshey-komandy-tut-by|access-date=2021-08-13|website=Meduza|language=ru}} Marina Zolotova faces up to seven years in prison.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/editor-marina-zolotova-faces-seven-years-jail-in-revenge-for-reporting-on-lukashenko-s-belarus-crackdown-jw88hqmz5

|title = Editor Marina Zolotova faces jail in 'revenge for reporting on Belarus crackdown'

|work = The Times

|date = 2021-06-01

|access-date = 2020-08-24

}} In early October 2021 a new criminal case was opened against Tut.by and its staff for alleged incitement to hatred.{{cite web

|language = ru

|author=Isachenko, A.

|url = https://www.bbc.com/russian/news-58833854

|title =Новое уголовное дело TUT.by, массовые задержания за посты о Зельцере: главное в Беларуси за неделю

|trans-title=New Criminal Case on TUT.by, Mass Detainment for Comments about Zeltser

|publisher = BBC Russia

|date = 2021-10-08

|accessdate = 2021-10-08

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.dw.com/ru/v-otnoshenii-sotrudnikov-tutby-zaveli-novoe-ugolovnoe-delo/a-59433275

|title = В Беларуси завели новое уголовное дело в отношении сотрудников Tut.by

|trans-title=Tut.by Staff Faces New Criminal Charges

|publisher = Deutsche Welle

|date = 2021-10-07

|accessdate = 2021-10-08

}}

Zisser's widow was released only on January 13, 2022. Former Deputy Chief Accountant Maria Novik, Vice Director Irina Rybalka and Chief Accountant Angela Asad were released under a gag order without dropping charges.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://baj.by/ru/content/na-svobode-eshche-troe-politzaklyuchennyh-po-delu-tutby

|title =Yа свободе еще трое политзаключенных по "делу TUT.BY"

|publisher = BAJ

|date = 2022-03-17

|accessdate = 2022-04-01

|trans-title = Three Political Prisoners Released during Tut.by Investigation

}} On March 17, 2022, three more staff members were released under the same conditions: Chief Editor of Political and Economical News Block, Deputy Technical Director Alexander Daineko and manager of Publisher Box Andrew Avdeev. While imprisoned, Loiko lost her father and was unable to help her sister during an 8.5 months course of medical treatment.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.currenttime.tv/a/sizo-sotrudniki-tut-by/31758208.html

|title =В Беларуси из СИЗО вышли еще трое бывших сотрудников портала TUT.BY

|publisher = Current Time TV

|date = 2022-03-17

|accessdate = 2022-04-01

|trans-title = Three More TUT.By Employees Released in Belarus

}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://belsat.eu/ru/news/04-02-2022-u-politzaklyuchennogo-redaktora-tut-by-olgi-lojko-umer-otets/

|title =У политзаключенного редактора TUT.BY Ольги Лойко умер отец

|publisher = Belsat.eu

|date = 2022-04-02

|accessdate = 2022-04-01

|trans-title = Political Prisoner Olga Loiko Lost Her Father

}}

As of March 17, 2022, 5 women were still imprisoned: Executive Director Ludmila Chekina, Former Chief Editor Marina Zolotova, Chief Engineer Alla Lopatko, Project Manager of TAM.by Daria Danilova, and journalist Elena Tolkacheva.

On June 14, 2022, TUT BY Media company that issued TUT.by was declared extremist by Minsk Economic Court. The court ordered to dissolve the company, prohibited all operations in Belarus and banned using its logos and symbols.

By June 18, 2022, Tolkacheva and all other employees of Tut.by except Zolotova and Chekina were released from prison, however, they remained suspects, most of them have been put on the KGB terrorist list. Although it was initially stated that they would only face economic charges, on January 9, 2023, Zolotova and Chekina were officially accused of "inciting hatred" and "calls for sanctions, other actions aimed at harming the national security of the Republic of Belarus" under chapters 243.2 and 361.3 of State Criminal Code.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/01/11/tut-vsio-ochen-plokho

|title =Тут всё очень плохо

|trans-title= Everything is very bad

|publisher =Novaya Gazeta Europe

|date =2023-01-11

|accessdate = 2023-01-11}}{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://nashaniva.com/ru/301426

|trans-title=Marina Zolotova and Ludmila Chekina put on the terrorist list

|title =Марину Золотову и Людмилу Чекину включили в "список террористов"

|publisher = Nasha Niva

|date = 2022-10-20

|accessdate = 2023-01-11}} In March 2023, both Zolotova and Chekina were sentenced to 12 years in a general regime penal colony.{{cite web

|language = en

|url = https://meduza.io/en/feature/2023/03/17/12-years-imprisonment

|title = Twelve years' imprisonment

|publisher = Meduza

|date = 2023-03-17}}

• Winner in the nomination “Most popular and visited Internet portal in the Republic of Belarus” (International festival and contest Choice Of The Year 2002).
• Best PR project with advanced web marketing by PRemiya 2003.
• Finalist at the Kyiv International Advertising Festival in 2004.
• “Leader brand” according to the nationwide poll in the product group “Information websites” in 2004, 2005, 2013,{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://marketing.by/novosti-rynka/pobediteli-konkursa-brend-goda-2013-foto/

|title = Победители конкурса «БРЭНД ГОДА 2013» (фото)

|trans-title=Brand of Year 2013 Winners

|publisher = Marketing.by

|date = 2014-01-27

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}} 2014 and 2015.

• Best search engine at TIBO 2005.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.kv.by/archive/index2005152105.htm

|title = Tut.By как лучший поисковик

|publisher = KV.by

|date = 2005

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}

• Best News Portal Prize at Golden Site Awards 2005.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://www.kv.by/archive/index2005412101.htm

|title = 5 лет Tut.By

|publisher = KV.by

|date = 2005

|access-date = 2020-07-08

}}

• Brand of the Year Award winner in News Web Portal in 2007, 2008,{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://mogilev.biz/news/internet/internet_335.html

|title = TUT.BY назван белорусами "Брэндом года"

|trans-title=Tut.by Is Chosen Brand of Year by Belarusians

|publisher = Business Mogilev

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} 2009, 2010,{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://tutby.com/news/3680.html

|title = Активная социальная позиция TUT.BY получила признание на конкурсе "Брэнд года 2010"

|publisher = Tut.by

|date = 2011-01-26

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}} 2013{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://naviny.by/rubrics/society/2014/01/25/ic_news_116_431380

|title = Компании «МТС» и «Твоя столица» стали обладателями Гран-при конкурса «Бренд года 2013»

|publisher = Naviny.by

|date = 2014-01-25

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

• Best Search Engine at Belarus Choice of the Year Award 2009.
• Brand of the Year Award winner in Socially Responsible Brand and Brand Leader in 2010.
• Best IT company in Belarus in nominations Team Spirit and Collective Work and Best Company (under 200 employees)
• 2015 – TUT.BY named a socially responsible mass media source for the regular coverage of the CSR projects of Belarusian business (the award for corporate social responsibility by the [https://jobs.tut.by/article/16523 International social economic fund Idea]).
• 2016 – Winner among internet portals in the consumer nomination of the professional republican contest Brand Of The Year.
• 2016 – CEO Alexander Chekan got the ‘Mentor of the Year’ Award.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://dev.by/news/gendirektor-tut-by-stal-mentorom-goda-v-belarusi

|title = Александр Чекан стал "Ментором года" в Беларуси

|publisher = Dev By Media

|date = 2016-11-16

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

• TUT.BY became an 11-times winner in the category “Information websites” at Brand Of The Year 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://brendgoda.by/winners/2017/|title=БРЕНД ГОДА|website=brendgoda.by|access-date=Sep 1, 2020}}
• Afisha.TUT.BY and Realty.TUT.BY won the nomination “Media with the best audience involvement”.
• In 2018 42.TUT.BY was among the winners of the international internet-media award ‘Mediator’. Lady.TUT.BY won the nomination “Most read media” in 2018.{{cite web

|language = ru

|url = https://willad.ru/industry-ratings/mediator-nazval-samye-chitaemye-internet-smi-i-mediatrendy#

|title = "Медиатор" назвал самые читаемые интернет-СМИ и медиатренды

|publisher = Adwillad.com

|access-date = 2020-07-10

}}

• TUT.BY сhief editor Marina Zolotova was named Person Of The Year 2018 by Nasha Niva newspaper and became the first laureate of the Belarusian Journalism Honor award. The award was established in memory of Ales Lipai, the founder of the BelaPAN information agency. The award is presented to journalists who combine professional achievements with civil action and contribute to the development of the media in Belarus and the emergence of the country as a democratic state.{{Cite web|url=https://naviny.by/article/20190409/1554802323-marina-zolotova-stala-laureatom-premii-gonar-zhurnalistyki-imeni-alesya|title=Марина Золотова стала лауреатом премии "Гонар журналістыкі" имени Алеся Липая

|language=ru

|trans-title=Marina Zolotova Wins Journalist Award

|date=2019-04-09

}}

• In February 2019, YouTube sent the “Silver Button” (an award handed to the authors of popular channels) to TUT.BY as the portal's video channel reached 100,000 subscribers.{{Cite web

|url=http://marketing.by/mnenie/aleksandr-demidovich-tut-by-nativnye-spetsproekty-v-video-formate-trend-no-eto-netochno/

|title=Александр Демидович, TUT.BY: Нативные спецпроекты в видео формате — тренд, но это неточно

|language=ru

|trans-title=Alexander Demidovich, Tut.by: Native Special Projects in Video is a Trend, but Maybe Not

|date=2019-02-19

|publisher=Marketing.by}}

• In May 2019 TUT.BY topped the Media IQ ranking as the Belarusian media with best compliance to journalism ethics.{{Cite web

|url=https://mediaiq.by/article/rekordsmen-po-propagande-v-marte-telekanal-stv

|title=Рекордсмен по пропаганде в марте — телеканал СТВ

|language=ru

|trans-title=STV Hits the Record in Propaganda

|publisher=Media IQ

|date=2019-04-30

}}

• In August 2021, TUT.BY got the Free Media Award.{{Cite web|last=Кепински|first=Ольга|date=2021-08-12|title=Все награды Free Media Awards присуждены белорусским журналистам|url=https://ru.euronews.com/2021/08/12/free-media-awards-belarus-journalists|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210812204758/https://ru.euronews.com/2021/08/12/free-media-awards-belarus-journalists|archive-date=2021-08-12|access-date=2021-08-12|website=|publisher=euronews|language=ru}}

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|trans-title=Distribution of the content of new media: trends and specificity

| url = https://elib.bsu.by/bitstream/123456789/188618/1/19-23.pdf

| journal = Journal of the Belarusian State University. Journalism and Pedagogics

| issue = 2

| pages = 19–23

|issn = 2521-6783

}}

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Category:Internet properties established in 2000

Category:Mass media companies of Belarus

Category:Mass media in Minsk

Category:Belarusian news websites

Category:2000 establishments in Belarus

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Category:Free Media Awards winners