Blast case falling apart. Authorities have to release oppositionists

• 21.07.2008, 11:13

Most of the oppositionists, detained in the case of 4 July blast in Minsk, have been released.

Two more detained in the criminal case Anton Koipish and Illya Bohdan – members of the Belarusian Popular Front, were set free on 29 July. They were detained on 10 July, today the 10-day term of custody has been expired (according to laws, a detained person must be either released or presented an accusation within 10 days).

Opposition activists Miraslau Lazouski, Syarhei Chyslau, Ihar Korsak, Yury Karetnikau, Mikhal Sheramet and Viktar Lyashchynski as well as activist of the Young Democrats youth organisation of the United Civil Party Alyaksandr Serhienka, member of the civil campaign European Belarus Paval Kuryanovich, leader of the unregistered Belarusian Party of Freedom Syarhei Vysotski were released.

Three more activists of the United Civil Party were arrested on 11 July allegedly for “using of obscene language in public”. Kiryl Paulouski got 10 days of arrest, Vital Strazhau and Mikhal Pashkevich were sentenced to 15 days of arrest. It is not excluded that the oppositionists are interrogated in the blast case.

It should be reminded that a criminal case over part 3 of article 339 of the Criminal Code (malicious hooliganism). According to unofficial information, from 50 to 70 people were detained in the course of investigation.