Analysis

Belarus: Teddy Bear Assault Starts Diplomatic Row
An opposition activist attaches a teddy bear to balloons in central Minsk on August 12, 2012 during an action in support of political prisoners. The teddy bear is similar to those dropped by Sweden in a massive publicity stunt to pressure Belarus to allow democratic change. (VICTOR DRACHEV/AFP/GettyImages)
August 16, 2012
| Security
| Europe
Summary
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The recent expulsion of the Swedish ambassador from Belarus was an attempt to showcase the country’s strength following the embarrassing teddy bear affair, in which two Swedish amateur pilots flew into Belarusian airspace and dropped hundreds of teddy bears carrying pro-democracy messages. But the teddy bears that dropped from the sky will not soon be forgotten as Europe moves to put increased pressure on the authoritarian government in Belarus.
The EU has long imposed sanctions on Belarus in hopes of bringing democratic change to the country, with which it shares a long border. Acting as a buffer between Russia and NATO, Belarus has been a strategic Russian ally. The EU is backing Sweden fully in the diplomatic row, but will refrain from responding too harshly so that its diplomatic personnel can remain in Belarus to report local conditions, and more importantly, to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country.

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