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.

According to the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus,  letters of guarantees for a prisoner can be filed by two or more citizens of Belarus without prior convictions who “deserve credit”. That's why human rights defenders propose all concerned citizens to sing the appropriate letters of guarantee, the samples of which are presented below, and submit them to the State Security Committee of the Republic of Belarus.

Bear in mind that real estate agent Siarhei Basharymau was detained and put in the pre-trial prison of the KGB on 6 July and photographer Anton Surapin – on 11 July. On 16 and 23 July they were given charges under Part 3 of Article 371 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus, “Illegal crossing of the state boundary of the Republic of Belarus”. This is the way the Belarusian KGB qualified the publication of the flight of a Swedish plane in the Belarusian airspace. The same charges against Siarhei Basharymau, who just lent an apartment to citizens of Sweden, look even more absurd.

The Human Rights Center “Viasna” considers the detention and imprisonment of Anton Surapin and Siarhei Basharymau as an attempt to escalate fear in the society and shift the burden of responsibility for the improper guarding of the state boundaries on ordinary citizens.

Letters of guarantee for the change of the restraint to journalist Anton Surapin and real estate agent Siarhei Basharymau have been prepared by the deputy head of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” Valiantsin Stefanovich and members of the “Visna” Council Tatsiana Reviaka and Uladzimir Labkovich.


sample letters of guarantee:

                  
                                                              To the State Security Committee
                                                              of the Republic of Belarus,
                                                              220050, Minsk, Nezalezhnasts Street, 17
                                                                                             
                                                              From (name, second name, surname,
                                                              address with the zip code)


            Letter of Guarantee

(according to provisions of Article 121 of the Criminal-Process Code)

I, (name, surname, passport number, date of issue, issuing agency), who lives in (address), being guided by Article 121 of the Criminal-Process Code, solicit for the change of the restraint to Surapin Anton Andreyevich, charged with 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 his release from custody under my personal guarantee.

I undertake that Surapin A.A., being released from custody, will not try to escape from the criminal prosecution organs and the court, wont create obstacles to the investigation of the criminal case or its consideration at court and won't engage in criminal activities.

I ask You to familiarize Surapin A.A. with this solicitation. In the case of his agreement to the use of the personal guarantee, I am ready to sign the personal guarantee for him in conformity with the law.

I am aware of the responsibility of the bailsman, provided by Part 4 of Article 121 of the Criminal-Process Code.

I ask You to take into account the nature and the reasonableness of the charges against Surapin A.A., his personality and age during the consideration of this issue, as well as the fact that the case doesn't contain any information according to which he could hide from criminal prosecution or judicial bodies, counteract to the preliminary investigation of the criminal case or its consideration at court.

I ask you to inform me about the taken decision in the due order.


Information about the bailsman:

(Name, surname, place of work and other information witnessing that you are a reliable bailsman).

Surname, name ______ signature                               Date__________



                                                              To the State Security Committee
                                                              of the Republic of Belarus,
                                                              220050, Minsk, Nezalezhnasts Street, 17
                                                                                             
                                                              From (name, second name, surname,
                                                              address with the zip code)


            Letter of Guarantee

(according to provisions of Article 121 of the Criminal-Process Code)

I, (name, surname, passport number, date of issue, issuing agency), who lives in (address), being guided by Article 121 of the Criminal-Process Code, solicit for the change of the restraint to Basharymau Siarhei Aliaksandravich, charged with 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 his release from custody under my personal guarantee.

I undertake that Basharymau S.A., being released from custody, will not try to escape from the criminal prosecution organs and the court, wont create obstacles to the investigation of the criminal case or its consideration at court and won't engage in criminal activities.

I ask You to familiarize Basharymau S.A. with this solicitation. In the case of his agreement to the use of the personal guarantee, I am ready to sign the personal guarantee for him in conformity with the law.

I am aware of the responsibility of the bailsman, provided by Part 4 of Article 121 of the Criminal-Process Code.

I ask You to take into account the nature and the reasonableness of the charges against Basharymau S.A., his personality and age during the consideration of this issue, as well as the fact that the case doesn't contain any information according to which he could hide from criminal prosecution or judicial bodies, counteract to the preliminary investigation of the criminal case or its consideration at court.

I ask you to inform me about the taken decision in the due order.


Information about the bailsman:

(Name, surname, place of work and other information witnessing that you are a reliable bailsman).

Surname, name ______ signature                               Date__________