Belarus: Heads Roll Over Teddy Bear Invasion

Two top generals in Belarus have been sacked after an air drop of teddy bears by Swedish pilots.

A total of 879 teddies bearing slogans supporting human rights were dropped with parachutes by two advertising agency employees from a plane they were piloting.
                 
The incursion into Belarus airspace on July 4 was initially denied by officials in the former Soviet state. But President Alexander Lukashenko called a meeting last week to scold authorities for allowing such a "provocation".
                 
The President - nicknamed 'Europe's last dictator' - subsequently sacked both Belarus's air defence chief and the head of the Border Guards service, as well as reprimanding several other top officials.
                 
Thomas Mazetti and Hannah Frey, the two Swedes behind the stunt, said they wanted to show support for Belarusian human rights activists and embarrass what they see as the country's fiercely pro-Lukashenko military.
                 
"Hopefully, we've made people more aware in the world and that there will be more people supporting Belarusian people," Mr Frey said.
                 
The Swedes' preparations took a year and involved buying and learning how to fly a three-seater Jodel aircraft. They financed the £118,000 stunt with their work in a small advertising agency.
                 
The pair said they were inspired by similar protests staged by Belarusian activists.
                 
"Our campaign was a campaign in support of that. An airlift in support of the teddy bears, from teddy bears around the world," Mr Mazetti said.
                 
The flight began and ended at Pociunai airfield in southern Lithuania. Thunderstorms that day may have made it harder for Belarus to scramble aircraft to intercept their plane, said Mazetti, though he acknowledged they risked being shot down.
                 
"We flew a plane at 50 metres - that's 150 feet - for one and a half hours inside Belarus. Of course we were aware of the risks. But it was a calculated risk and we thought we needed to take that risk ourselves - we couldn't hire anyone," he said.

"But we will not do it again tomorrow, if I put it that way."
                 
Authorities in Belarus have also arrested a journalism student who posted teddy bear photos on his personal website and an estate agent who offered an apartment to the Swedes.  The two men have been accused of assisting border violators and face up to seven years in prison if convicted.