By Pearl Rimon
Impunity Watch Reporter, Europe
MINSK, BELARUS – Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, fired two military officials who allowed Belarus’ airspace to be invaded by teddy bears.
On July 4, a Swedish advertising agency dropped 879 teddy bears wearing parachutes and carrying slogans in support of human rights.
Lukashenko fired air defense chief, Dmitry Pakhmelkin and head of the border guards Igor Rachkovsky due to “not properly carrying out their duties in safeguarding Belarussian national security.” Lukashenko said, “This plane was discovered in time, but why did the (air defense) authorities not intercept the flight? … Come on lads. We are all grown up. The guilty ones have to answer for this.”
Belarussian authorities have arrested a journalism student who posted photos of the teddy bears on his personal website and the real estate agent who offered an apartment to the advertising agency. The two can face up to seven years or prison due to being charged with assisting border violators.
Previously, officials denied that the July 4th incident happened, up until last week where Luashenko called a meeting to reprimand authorities for allowing the event to occur.
Hannah Frey and Thomas Mazetti, the two coordinators behind the act said that it was to show support for human rights activists and to humiliate the country’s military. “Hopefully, we’ve made people more aware in the world and that there will be more people supporting Belarusian people,” Frey said.
Frey and Mazetti’s tedy bear stunt was inspired by similar protests by Belarussian activists, who have been known to arrange stuffed animals in a fashion that appeared to be protesting Lukashenko’s regime.
The teddy bear stunt cost €150,000 ($184,500). The plane took off and landed in southern Lithuana. The plane flew inside the borders of Belarus for 90 minutes.
Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 over the population of 10 million of the former Soviet state.
A similar event happened in the former Soviet Union in 1987. Matthias Rust from Germany took his place into Soviet airspace and landed next to the Kremlin. Mikhail Gorbachev, leader of the Soviet Union, fired the defense minister and other top military officials in response.
For further information, please see:
Huffington Post — Belarus Teddy Bear Invasion: Fluffy Bears Bring Bring Down 2 Generals – 02 August 2012
The Independent — Teddy bears defeat Belarus generals – 02 August 2012
Lubbock Online — Teddy bears swoop in with human rights support, bring down two Belarus generals – 01 August 2012
