Swedish Embassy in Minsk receives threats

• 14.08.2012, 8:47

The Swedish MFA calls on Swedes to be more vigilant in Belarus.

The diplomatic row between Sweden and Belarus forces the Swedish MFA to call on Swedes to be particularly vigilant and exercise caution in Belarus, Swedish MFA spokesperson Catarina Axelsson said at a press conference, Sveriges radio reports.

According to her, the MFA does not have information about incidents with Swedish nationals in Belarus, but the Swedish Embassy in Minsk thinks they should be “particularly vigilant”.

About ten Swedish citizens live in Belarus and approximately 3500 Swedes per year receive visas to visit the country, the Swedish MFA says.

We remind the diplomatic row started after a Swedish light plane dropped 800 teddy bears with pro-free speech leaflets near Minsk on July 4. The Belarusian authorities expelled the Swedish ambassador and other Swedish diplomats from the country accusing them of being involved in organizing the border violation.