The United Kingdom (U.K.) has told airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace after the country's president diverted a plane and forced it to land in the capital of Minsk, resulting in the arrest of a jour
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Belarus jet hijack : Wouldn t come as a surprise if detained journalist Roman Protasevich was forced to make confession, says minister A government minister has said it would not come as a surprise if a journalist detained in Belarus after a flight was diverted there was forced to appear in a video admitting to organising anti-government protests, as his father has claimed.
Roman Protasevich was arrested after authorities in his native Belarus forced the Ryanair jet carrying him to land in the capital Minsk on Sunday.
Mr Protasevich, 26, who is based in Lithuania,
appeared on a video on Monday admitting he had played a role in organising anti-government protests in Minsk last year.
Dominic Raab tells airlines to avoid Belarus airspace after journalist arrested on Ryanair jet Andrew Woodcock
The UK is preparing to impose sanctions against the dictatorial regime in Belarus over its seizure of an opposition journalist, with all possible measures on the table, Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has said. The European Union is planning to follow suit and has banned Belarusian airlines from its airspace.
Mr Raab had already slapped a ban on the former Soviet state’s national airline Belavia and instructed UK flights to avoid Belarus airspace, after a Ryanair jet was forced to land on Sunday in its capital Minsk. Roman Protasevich, 26, was subsequently taken from the aircraft and detained.
I’m begging the whole world to save him : Mother of Belarus journalist Roman Protasevich makes emotional plea for help getting him released from Minsk jail where he is being held after being seized in Ryanair hijacking
Roman Protasevich, 26, has appeared on state TV - the first time he has been seen since his arrest on Sunday
Dissident journalist said he is cooperating with police, is being treated within the law and has confessed
But father Dzmitry said it seems his son s nose is broken and he is wearing makeup to hide bruising on his face
His mother Natalia has begged the international community to save her son over fears he will be killed