Thursday, August 9, 2012

Belarussian Leader Promises Swift Justice Against 'Teddy Bear' Parachute Drop (I Am Being Serious)

Two Belarusian journalists have been arrested for participating in a stunt that involved parachuting teddy bears. © Photo Studio Total

Teddy Bear Air Drop Still Roils In Belarus -- Christian Science Monitor

Belorussians have been put on trial for complicity in last month's teddy bear air drop by two Swedes protesting Belarus's poor human rights and democracy record.

No, it's not happening on the Forest Moon of Endor, but in a place that often seems almost as strange and remote: the post-Soviet republic of Belarus.

Belarussian leader Alexander Lukashenko has ordered his law enforcement officials to get to the bottom of the intrusion into his country's airspace last month by a small private aircraft that dropped 879 teddy bears, each on its own individual parachute and bearing a pro-democracy messages such as "we support the Belarussian struggle for free speech."

Read more ....

More News On The 'Teddy Bear' Crisis In Belarus

Belarus arrests two in wake of teddy bear airdrop
-- NBC
Belarus fines two for toy bear photos after airdrop -- Chicago Tribune/Reuters
Belarus pushes Sweden to close its embassy in Minsk -- L.A. Times
Belarus orders closure of Swedish embassy to Minks, expels all diplomats -- Washington Post/AP
Belarus Journalists Fined Over Teddy Bear Stunt -- RIA Novosti
Belarus's teddy bear fury continues -- Foreign Policy

My Comment:
That's the problem with dictators who have a thin skin .... a few teddy bears on parachutes can make them go nuts. What an embarrassment .... but on the plus side .... Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko's backers in Moscow are deeply embarrassed with him, and are making themselves scarce when his name is mentioned.

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