Studio Total: Belarusian law enforcement agencies are in hysteria

Swedish advertisement agency Studio Total made a statement about the “teddy troopers” and arrests of Belarusian citizens by KGB.

Website charter97.org received a text of the statement:

“In recent days Belarusian KGB conducted interrogations and threw into prison those, who wrote about our action in Belarus. Nothing special for the country, where harassment of journalists is a daily routine, but the absolute absence of adequate reasons in this story causes astonishment.

It is obvious that Belarusian law enforcement agencies and especially Lukashenko, who personally guaranteed the security of Belarusian border, are now in deep despair, panic, and hysteria.

Thus, we want to express our position clearly:

Before conducting our action Studio Total newer had any contacts with Anton Suryapin or other citizens of the Republic of Belarus. All campaign has been conducted in complete secrecy, even in Sweden. Moreover, we didn’t have any contacts with Belarusian citizens after the action, except several interviews, including to government-controlled media. Our staff made all photos from Belarus separately.

Suspicions were announced in Belarusian mass-media that we, presumably, received money from “western special services”. It causes laugh to everyone who knows us. But in order to express our position clearly one again, we repeat:

The campaign costed about 100,000 euros, Studio Total paid it all. We are ready to provide all accountancy, if KGB would like to examine the tickets (but we warn that tickets from bars can be in disorder).

Finally, we would like to thank again those Belarusians who are fighting for the freedom of speech. Every victory of yours - is a victory for the whole world. Your courage and humor give us inspiration.