At Least 8 Europe-Based Airlines Avoiding Belarus After Arrest of Raman Pratasevich On 5/25/21 at 9:45 AM EDT In response to the arrest of journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich in Belarus, the European Union began working on new sanctions and at least eight European-based airlines were avoiding Belarus' airspace on Tuesday. Pratasevich's arrest occurred on Sunday after Belarusian flight controllers told the crew of the Ryanair jetliner he was aboard that there was a bomb threat and ordered the flight to land, the Associated Press reported. EU leaders responded quickly to the diversion and Pratasevich's arrest in a response summit on Monday. Belarusian airlines were banned from using the airspace and airports of the 27-nation bloc. Sanctions were also imposed on the officials connected to the diversion of Pratasevich's plane on Sunday, and the EU urged International Civil Aviation Organization to start an investigation into the incident.