The Local Sweden

Swedes put teddy-bear dropping plane on eBay

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 13:59:00 +0200

A Swedish PR firm that dropped teddy bears over Belarus in pro-democracy stunt last year is now selling its plane, with the profits heading to "the fight for a free Belarus".

Swedish envoy back to Belarus after teddy spat

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 09:29:00 +0200

Sweden plans to send its first diplomat to Belarus since its ambassador was expelled last summer after hundreds of teddy bears were dropped from an airplane in a pro-democracy stunt organized by a Swedish PR firm.

Sweden to probe Belarus teddy-drop stunt

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 18:43:00 +0100

Prosecutors in Sweden announced on Tuesday that they had taken over the official investigation from Lithuania into a Swedish PR firm's stunt of dropping "pro free speech" teddy bears near the Belarusian capital.

Belarus jails guard over Swedes' teddy bear drop

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 09:28:00 +0100

A border guard on duty when a Swedish plane flew over Belarus last summer to drop hundreds of pro-democracy teddy bears has been jailed for failing to stop the stuffed-animal assault.

Swedish PR firm 'enters' US presidential race

Tue, 06 Nov 2012 15:35:00 +0100

Controversial Swedish PR agency Studio Total has thrown itself into the frenzied last hours of the American election, after creating and launching the Swedish Party in a bid to get Americans talking.

Belarus sacks foreign minister after teddy drop

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 19:06:00 +0200

Belarus strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko on Monday fired his foreign minister as part of a sweeping reshuffle that follows a diplomatic crisis in ties with Sweden after a pro-democracy stunt.

Belarusian journalist released on bail

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:15:00 +0200

Belarus on Friday freed on bail two men accused of helping Swedish rights activists who illegally flew into Belarusian territory to release teddy bears carrying protest messages.

Lithuania to probe Swedish teddy-drop stunt

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 15:38:00 +0200

Lithuanian prosecutors said Thursday they had launched an official probe into a stunt by Swedish activists who flew a plane into Belarus from Lithuania to drop hundreds of "freedom teddy bears."

Lithuania warns Belarus and summons envoy

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 09:30:00 +0200

Lithuania summoned the Belarus ambassador Tuesday in protest after Minsk expelled Swedish diplomats in the "teddy bear" row, warning the move could further worsen relations with the European Union.

Teddy-drop team invites Lukashenko to Sweden

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 16:59:00 +0200

The founders of the Swedish PR firm which dropped pro-free speech teddy bears over Belarus have written another open letter to President Alexander Lukashenko, declining his offer of a meeting in Minsk, and instead inviting him to their house in Skåne, southern Sweden.

Swedish embassy in Belarus receives threat

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 08:31:00 +0200

Sweden's embassy in Minsk has received a threat against Swedish nationals in Belarus, following the recent expulsion of the Swedish ambassador and diplomats, the foreign ministry said Sunday.

KGB summons teddy bear drop Swedes

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 17:14:00 +0200

Three Swedes behind the "teddy bear" stunt which has contributed to a full-blown diplomatic crisis between Belarus and Sweden, claimed on Saturday that they have been summoned to appear before the KGB.

Belarus asks Lithuania to probe teddy bear claims

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 15:41:00 +0200

Lithuania on Friday was mulling a request by Belarus to probe claims by Swedish human rights activists that they flew across the border to make a drop of freedom teddy bears, angering Minsk.

Lukashenko confirms Swedish teddy bear flight

Thu, 26 Jul 2012 18:07:00 +0200

After weeks of denial, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has admitted that a light airplane crossed into the country's airspace on July 4th, reported to have been piloted by a Swedish PR firm in a pro-democracy stunt.

Swedes slam Belarus over teddy bear arrests

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 19:31:00 +0200

The founder of the Swedish PR firm which dropped hundreds of pro-free speech teddy bears over Belarus has mocked president Alexander Lukashenko as an "armed clown" following the arrest of people suspected of aiding in the pro-democracy stunt.

'You're a clown': Swedish PR firm to Belarusian leader Lukashenko

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:40:00 +0200

In an unedited open letter to Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, founder of Swedish PR firm Studio Total Per Cromwell protests the arrest of a Belarusian journalist and takes aim at the leader's "laughable" legacy.

Journalist arrested over Swedish teddy bear pics

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 14:23:00 +0200

A journalist who posted pictures of "pro-free speech" teddy bears like those dropped by Swedes in Belarus in early July has been arrested by the country's security services as organizers of the stunt released more video footage of the flight.

Belarus teddy bear 'bombers' unmasked

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 02:49:00 +0200

The Swedes who say they dropped hundreds of 'pro-free speech' teddy bears over Belarus on Wednesday have come forward amid reports of stuffed bears being found on the ground in Belarus and a confirmed airspace violation.

Doubts cast over Belarus teddy bear drop

Wed, 04 Jul 2012 18:22:00 +0200

A Swedish group that claims to have dropped hundreds of 'pro free-speech' teddy bears over a Belarusian town early this morning has released a video that they say shows their stunt taking place. But no teddy bears have been found on the ground.