Rapota about ‘bear drop’: Anything can happen

Questioning Air Defence Efficiency after Bear Drop Is Adequate Reaction, Rapota Says.

The fact of ‘bear drop’ still remains unrecognized by officials.

Questions raised by the public over the efficiency of the air defense system operated by Belarus to protect the western border of the Belarusian-Russian Union State are legitimate, Grigory Rapota, the state secretary of the Union State, said.

Mr. Rapota noted it is adequate reaction to pilots from Swedish PR agency Studio Total illegally entering Belarus’ air space on a light aircraft on July 4 to drop teddy bears holding miniature banners “We support the Belarusian struggle for free speech” and “You will not silence us” in a show of support for the country’s pro-democracy movement.

Mr. Rapota refused to comment on whether the drop had taken place.

“It is premature to comment on anything until the investigation is completed,” - he said.

“If it confirms that the border violation took place, proper conclusions will be made. There can always be mistakes, omissions and negligence. Anything can happen.”

According to unconfirmed reports, the Presidential Administration in Minsk formed a commission to conduct a sweeping inspection of all units of the Air and Air Defense Force in connection with the report.

As it was reported previously, a plane with two Swedish pilots — the employees of a PR agency Studio Total — took off in Lithuania and illegally crossed Belarusian border and dropped 800 teddy bears on Minsk and a neighbouring town Ivianiec remaining unnoticed by Belarusian air defence forces.