On July 15, 2013, the Belarusian Association of Journalists received an official reply to its inquiry of June 11, 2013 from the KGB. Read More
KGB halted criminal proceedings against Surapin and Basharymau
The KGB’s main spokesman Arthur Strecha has informed that KGB halted criminal proceedings against Surapin and Basharymau. Read More
Copies of petitions in support of Anton Surapin sent to the General Prosecutor’s office
The campaign was started on August 14. Within three days dozens of chief editors of Belarusian and foreign mass media, media persons, public figures and BAJ members signed the petition to dismiss criminal charges against Anton Surapin and to stop persecution of journalists for their professional activities. Read More
Amnesty International calls to drop charges from Basharymau and Surapin
The international human rights organization released a statement in connection with the release of Syarhei Basharymau and Anton Surapin on their own recognizance.
Both men were accused under Article 16 (“participation in a crime”) and Article 371 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (“illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Belarus”), the statement reads. Both could face up to seven years in prison, Radio Svaboda reports. Read More
Basharymau’s mother: “Son has to apply much effort to put everything in order”
Estate agent Syarhei Basharymau tries to rest and set his business in order. He prefers not to talk to journalists. Salidarnast asked the mother of the former prisoner about his plans for the future. Read More
Siarhiej Basharymau
Siarhiej Basharymau is a real estate broker from Minsk. He graduated from the Belarusian Institute of Jurisprudence. He is passionate about the sport. He was never involved in politics. He was believed to have leased out an apartment to representatives of Studio Total who organized a July 4 prank in which hundreds of teddy bears wearing free-speech slogans were dropped over the countryside outside the capital city of Minsk.
Chronicle of repression
On 6 July 2012 Mr. Basharymau was detained and accused under the art. 371, part 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus (illegal crossing of the state border of the Republic of Belarus).
The organizer of bear bombing claimed he contacted Basharymau only to rent a flat in Minsk. At the same time he said there had been a person in Minsk ready to take photos. Belarusian secret services might consider Mr. Basharymau to be the man mentioned.
Swedish pilots assured they received no support from the Belarusian side as they did not want Belarusians to be oppressed for the solidarity action. In accordance with the Belarusian Criminal Code, Siarhiej Basharymau faced the imprisonment term of 3 to up to 7 years.
On 17 August 2012, Basharymau and Anton Surapin, who was also a defendant in the case, were freed on bail, after agreeing not to leave the country. On 28 June 2013 the KGB closed the case.
Anton Surapin and Siarhey Basharimau were released
Young people remain the defendants in the case of “Teddy troopers”. Anton Surapin himself called the press-service of the NGO “Belarusian Association of Journalists” at 20.30 from Slutsk, reports the website of the organization. He is under house arrest and a confidentiality agreement. Read More
change.org website is blocked in Belarus
The collection of signatures in support of the release of Anton Surapin and Siarhei Basharymau started on this webpage not long ago. Change.org has been inaccessible in Belarus since August 12. Meanwhile, you can access the website with the help of foreign proxy servers without any problems. Read More
Human Rights Defenders join the campaign of the Belarusian Association of Journalists for the release of Siarhei Basharymau and Anton Surapin
The Human Rights Center “Viasna” joined the initiative of the Belarusian Association of Journalists aimed at the change of the restraint to journalist Anton Surapin who has been kept in the pre-trial prison of the KGB since 13 July. The human rights defenders also solicit for the change of the restraint to real estate agent Siarhei Basharymau, who, together with Surapin, received charges of assistance to unlawful crossing of the state boundary of the Republic of Belarus (Part 6 of Article 16 and Part 3 of Article 371 of the Criminal Code) and their release on bail. Read More