[18][19] The trial attracted international political condemnation and the verdicts passed out have been questioned, primarily by the Belarusian opposition and the EU.

The bombing of the Minsk Metro led to the country's largest loss of life since 53 people were crushed to death at Nemiga in 1999.

[22] During the Belarus Independence Day celebrations on 4 July 2008, 54 people were injured when a bomb exploded at a concert in Minsk.

[6] The economic crisis of 2011 meant that the rubel fell considerably during the year and the average salary (in dollars) decreased by 38% between December 2010 and May 2011.

The explosion happened at 17:55 during evening rush hour at Kastryčnickaja station inside the Minsk Metro.

[27] At the moment of the explosion, there were approximately 300 people in the station and an outbound (Uruchye-bound) train passed through the area without stopping.

[37] President Lukashenko asserted that the explosion was aimed at undermining "peace and stability" and hinted at possible foreign involvement but also ordered an emergency investigation of domestic weapon storage facilities.

He made an appeal to the Belarusian population to assist in the apprehension of the perpetrators: "I would like to address the people honestly and openly: without you it will be difficult for us to find these monsters.

These people were alleged to be spreading false information about the bombing on Internet forums and social networking sites.

[46] He also claimed they had admitted their guilt and described the investigation by the police and the Belarusian State Security Committee as a "brilliant operation".

[48] It was reported that psychiatrists interviewed the prime suspect and that he said that he "enjoyed the suffering of others" and did not claim any political motives.

On 10 April 2011 Kavalyov's friend Dzmitry Kanavalau came to Minsk to meet a girl he had met online.

[14] Initial scepticism about the official version of events pointed out that there are no significant ethnic or religious divides in Belarus, nor any history of violent political opposition.

[17] Andrei Soldatov, an analyst at Agentura.Ru, opined that organising and executing the bombing required specialised training and that "In Belarus there is no opposition group that has that kind of experience.

The UN Security Council issues a standard statement whenever a UN member country suffers a terrorist attack.

In this case, the United States insisted on qualifying it, and this was the first time the council has ever used such phrasing after an act of terror.

On 15 March 2012 the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the Belarusian government for implementing the death penalty.

[50] The Belarusian Foreign Ministry's press service stated that the resolution indicates serious interference in the internal affairs of the country.

[87] The press service of the Belarusian president reported that Israel, Russia and the United Kingdom offered to help in the investigation.

[27] Subsequently, the Interior Ministry announced that the explosive specialists from these three countries would arrive in Minsk during the following day.

[83] On 12 April 2011, a team of three Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps doctors departed for Belarus in order to assist in the efforts following the subway attack.

The team began operations by examining the steps needed to be taken, while advising local authorities on trauma and post-trauma procedures.