Basharymau presented with charges, Surapin – not yet

Anton Surapin's 10-day term in custody has expired today, but he has not been released.

Charges have not been brought against him. The journalist took part in procedural acts today. He was left in jail for further inquiry. This the only information Anton Surapin's lawyer was able to say after visiting the KGB, the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) reports.

The detained journalist sends his best wishes to the people supporting him. Anton Surapin knows about the wide response evoked by his arrest.

Surapin was detained by KGB officers on July 13. He is suspected of “aiding in illegal crossing the border of Belarus”. Estate agent Syarhei Basharymau from Minsk was detained in the same case on July 6. On July 16, he was charged with violation of part 3 of article 371 of the Criminal Code (illegal crossing the state border of the Republic of Belarus).

Syarhei Basharymau may face from 3 to 7 years in prison.

As charter97.org already informed, Swedish PR agency Studio Total reported  on July 4 via its website that a performance to support democracy in Belarus was held. Swedish citizens overflew the Lithuanian-Belarusian border, reached Minsk and returned. The Swedish pilots released 876 teddy bears with free speech leaflets over the town of Ivyanets (the Valozhyn district of the Minsk region) and the outskirts of Minsk.