Issue and Opponent: In early August 2008, after Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili sent troops into the rebellious province of South Ossetia, Russia came to its defense, beginning a five-day-long conflict that ended with Russian troops within striking distance of Tbilisi, the Georgian capital. The violence generated by the Russian military presence in Georgia generated responses from various groups in multiple European countries. Belarus, whose President Alexander Lukashenko is accused by the West of crushing fundamental rights, has portrayed itself as a close Russian ally since the 1990s, however, Belarus’s Foreign Ministry called on both sides to lay down their arms and start negotiating for peace. Dilemma Action: In Belarus on August 11, 2008, the Young Front, a Belarusian youth movement declaring democratic values, held a picketing rally demanding Russian aggression in Georgia to be stopped, blocking entry and exit to the Russian Embassy in Minsk. The protesters held banners saying: “Stop Aggression,” “Russia-Georgia: war with peacekeeping goals?” “One-sixth part of the land – is it not enough?.” The militia officers who arrived at the place of the rally suggested that the youth disperse, referring to the fact that the rally was not sanctioned. Protesters decided to pass a petition addressed to the Russian ambassador in connection with the military operations in Georgia. When police arrived to break up the demonstration, activists sat on the ground and were then dragged away. Outcome: The demonstration lasted only 10 minutes until the police arrived, armed with machine guns, and proceeded to arrest some of the protesters. Pro-Georgian rallies received huge support, with thousands marching in protest in different European cities.