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Prosecutor general expresses hope that role of detained Russians in post-election events will soon be established

Prosecutor General Ryhor Vasilevich expressed hope at a news conference Thursday that the role of the two detained citizens of Russia in the December 19 post-election events in Minsk would soon be established.

Along with more than 30 other people, Artyom Breus and Ivan Gaponov have been charged in a so-called riot case and are facing up to 15 years in prison.

Messrs. Breus and Gaponov are currently under investigation, Dr. Vasilevich said. "If the pace is not what it should be, we'll pay attention to this," he said. "Perhaps, there has been a pause because a large number of people were arrested. I hope there will be progress soon."

When asked whether it was lawful of Belarusian authorities to have started a procedure to cancel the residence permit held by Mr. Gaponov, Dr. Vasilevich said, "Before the line is drawn, I think that it would be premature to strip him of his residence permit," he said. "This is possible after his guilt is confirmed, which can only be done by court."

The 27-year-old Breus and the 22-year-old Gaponov were among the 12 citizens of Russia arrested during the December 19 protest in Minsk. They were released on December 29 upon completion of their jail terms and rearrested later that day.

In an article titled “They Stormed House of Government,” which was published by the largest government newspaper Sovetskaya Belorussiya on January 15, the two young men are accused of taking an active part in clashes with police. //BelaPAN