Editor of bnp.by website will remain in custody for up to 10 days. Anton Suryapin is suspected in contributing to illegal crossing of the state border, committed by an organized group of persons, the press service of the Belarusian Association of Journalists informs. The criminal case was opened under Part 3 of Article 371 of the Criminal Code. Anton faces up to seven years in prison.
We remind, bnp.by website was the first which posted the photos of Swedish teddy troops, which was dropped on July 4 by a single-engine plane over Ivyanets and Minsk. Ministry of Defence of Belarus denied the violation of airspace boundaries of the republic. However, on July 13 Anton's apartment in Minsk was searched and he was detained for 3 days. On July 16 the investigator decided to apply preventive punishment in the form of detention.
July 17, in the morning Anton parents - Elena and Andrei Suryapin - together with the Deputy Chairman of BAJ Andrei Bastunets met with a duty counsel, who yesterday attended the interrogation of Anton in the KGB jail.
"Theoretically, if during this period (10 days from the arrest date - UDF.BY) Anton innocence is clarified, he may be freed without waiting for it to expire. But so far, it looks like the case could be prolonged", the press service of Belarusian Association of Journalists quotes Andrei Bastunets words.
Anton's parents signed a contract with another lawyer who will represent interests of the detained journalist. Today they are trying to pass a parcel to their son in prison.
