European Council president Charles Michel said Minsk was playing “Russian roulette” after a Ryanair flight was diverted and a prominent critic arrested in Belarus.
Journalist Roman Protasevich was on board a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius on Sunday when it was forced to change course to head for the Belarussian capital after a reported bomb scare, escorted by a MiG fighter jet.
He was arrested and, in a video released by Belarusian authorities on Monday evening, appeared to admit he was involved in organising mass protests in Minsk last year.
Hijacking. Air Piracy. Playing Roulette with the lives of innocent civilians.
Foreign Secretary visits Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories (May 2021) English
From:
25 May 2021
The Foreign Secretary will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah during his 1-day visit. The UK remains committed to the 2-state solution as the best way to permanently end the occupation, deliver Palestinian self-determination and preserve Israel’s Jewish and democratic identity.
He will also meet Israeli Foreign and Defence Ministers, Gabi Ashkenazi and Benny Gantz, as well as Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Foreign Minister Riad Malki.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said:
The UK welcomes the ceasefire in Israel and Gaza. It is crucial that all sides now focus on ensuring it can last. The events of the last month demonstrate the urgent need to make genuine progress towards a more positive future for both Israelis and Palestinians, and breaks the cycle of violence
European Council president Charles Michel said Minsk was playing “Russian roulette” after a Ryanair flight was diverted and a prominent critic arrested in Belarus.
Journalist Roman Protasevich was on board a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius on Sunday when it was forced to change course to head for the Belarussian capital after a reported bomb scare, escorted by a MiG fighter jet.
He was arrested and, in a video released by Belarusian authorities on Monday evening, appeared to admit he was involved in organising mass protests in Minsk last year.
The European Union and the UK have issued new sanctions against Belarus in light of the incident, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps instructing the Civil Aviation Authority to request airlines avoid Belarusian air space “to keep passengers safe”.
Provided by Dow Jones
By Thomas Grove The European Union agreed on fresh sanctions against Belarus, promising to bar the country s airline Belavia from its airspace, after the country diverted a Ryanair flight to its capital of Minsk to detain an opposition journalist and activist on May 23. The move shows Belarus, which has started a crackdown against the opposition at home, is willing to track exiled activists down as well. What happened and why did Belarus divert a Ryanair flight? While flying over Belarusian airspace, pilots on Ryanair Flight 4978 received a warning from air-traffic controllers that there was a potential security threat on board, and a MiG-29 was sent to escort the Boeing 737-800 to the Belarusian capital. Minutes before the plane was meant to cross into Lithuanian airspace, the plane made a sharp right and landed at the Minsk airport.
Belarusian airlines will be banned from entering UK airspace unless specifically authorised , Grant Shapps has said.
The Transport Secretary revealed the government is taking further action following the removal of permission for Belavia to operate to and from Britain. With immediate effect, Belarusian airlines will be prevented from entering UK airspace unless specifically authorised, he tweeted.
The move comes after Boris Johnson warned the treatment by Belarus of a captured journalist and prominent government critic would have consequences .
Roman Protasevich was on board a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius on Sunday when it was forced to change course to head for the Belarus capital after a reported bomb scare, escorted by a MiG fighter jet.