Viasna demands to release Surapin and Basharymau

• 25.07.2012, 9:43

It is said in the statement of human rights organization.

Human rights activists note that Syarhei Basharymau was detained and jailed by KGB on July 7 and photographer Anton Surapin - on July 13. Charges had to be brought against them on July 17 and 23 respectively according to article 371 p.1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Belarus). However, according to the information received from various detained people, only Basharymau has been charged.

"Belarusian KGB has assessed the fact that Surapin posted photos of the possible flight of a Swedish plane in Belarus this way. The charges brought against Syarhei Basharymau are even more absurd. He let a flat to Swedish citizens", - state human rights activists.

The statement informs that Surapin and Basharymau's arrests occurred at the time when the Belarusian Ministry of Defense did not confirm the fact of crossing the state border of the Republic of Belarus.

It is also worth noting that Belarusian military men and frontier gaurs refuted the fact of illegal border crossing by a foreign airplane at first. A presidential commission is conducting a check-up of all Air Force units and air defense now.