Belarus journalist detained for 'airlifted teddy bears' pictures

Belarussian authorities have decided not to release a young independent Belarussian journalist, Anton Suryapin, who was detained over a week ago by the country's security services after posting pictures of teddy bears on to the internet.

It is unclear where exactly the toys came from, but two Swedish pilots claim they secretly flew into Belarus and parachuted them into the country in an attempt to promote freedom of speech and protest against what many see as the autocratic rule of president Alexander Lukashenko.

Authorities have called the claims 'a provocation' yet deny there was any unauthorised entry into their airspace.

It is still not clear what charges Anton Suryapin is facing as information about the investigation is being kept secret.

Maria Grechaninova reports.

Report from July 24 2012