Aliaksandr Alesin: It helped that Charter began to defend me
- 10.12.2014, 12:13
The website charter97.org was the first to talk to the observer after his release.
“I have just been released. They changed the charge and released me on my own recognisance. I am not allowed to reveal details. I am charged with cooperating with foreign secret services. I cannot give more details. Thank you for defending me, but the situation remains rather difficult. The investigation is under way, so I must be silent.
Charter'97 is the first to know that I have been released. I am on my way home now. My children told me that you defended me, thank you for that. I'd like to thank all people who supported and defended me. I think it helped me,” Aliaksandr Alesin told charter97.org.
Aliaksandr Alesin, military expert and observer for Belorusy i Rynok newspaper, was released from the KGB jail on his own recognisance on Wednesday morning.
He was detained by the security services on November 25. As charter97.org learnt from a source, he was arrested on suspicions of espionage as he was having lunch with an unknown man at a Minsk cafe.
The KGB says the journalist was charged with violating article 356 “Treason against the state” and part 1 of article 356 “Divulging state secrets to a foreign state, foreign organisation or a representative, or espionage”. Charges were also brought against a foreign diplomat.
Aliaksandr Alesin is a journalist and observer for for Belorusy i Rynok newspaper. He specialises in military analytics. He won the Grand Prix in the 2008 Golden Pen contest among journalists covering automobile topics in business and republican mass media.