EU Sanctions Belarus After It Diverts Plane And Detains Journalist

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

(Worthy News) – The European Union on Monday introduced new sanctions on Belarus after Minsk forced a passenger plane flying over its airspace to land and detained a Belarusian opposition journalist onboard.

The 27-nation EU agreed to ban Belarusian aircraft from flying over the bloc’s airspace in response to the diversion. It also called for EU-based airlines to avoid flying over Belarusian air space.

EU leaders are also considering banning the Belarus national carrier, Belavia, from landing at EU airports. Belavia currently flies to 26 EU destinations, including Paris, Frankfurt, Barcelona, Rome, Stockholm, and Warsaw.

The announcement came while video footage emerged of captured journalist Roman Protasevich, 26, who spoke directly to the camera. He confessed to “crimes” and said he is being treated well.

However, his family fears the declaration was made under duress. “We are afraid to even think about it, but it’s possible he could be beaten and tortured. We are really afraid of that,” said his father, Dmitri Protasevich.

The journalist was “super-scared” on his detention, according to witnesses, and told fellow passengers he would face the death penalty. Roman Protasevich faces at least 12 years or more in prison after he and the creator of social media channel Nexta, exposed Belarusian police brutality during anti-government demonstrations last year.

They were added to a list of individuals purportedly involved in terrorist activities. Nexta and its sister channel, Nexta Live, have close to 2 million subscribers. Protasevich also has many followers through his own online blog publication.

COUPLE DETAINED

Protasevich and his girlfriend were arrested in Minsk, the capital, and three other passengers reportedly left the plane. Ryanair suggested that the other three may have been agents of the Belarusian secret service KGB.

Belarus said the flight was diverted because of a bomb threat from Palestinian militant group Hamas. The Ryanair plane, carrying 171 passengers from Greece to Lithuania, was close to its destination when Belarusian air traffic control warned its crew there had been a report of a bomb on board.

The pilot of a MiG-29, ordered to intercept the airliner, signaled it should land in Minsk – allowing Protasevich to be taken by state security service officers. Belarus’ state-owned news agency said Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko “personally” ordered the landing.

Western leaders condemned the move. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the immediate release of Raman Pratasevich, a vocal critic of Lukashenko, who was busted after the plane touched down in Minsk.

Lithuania, where the journalist lived in exile, asked the European Union and the NATO military alliance to intervene. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab called the flight diversion and detention of the journalist a “reckless and dangerous” breach of international law.

European Council President Charles Michel called it “an international scandal.” Russia, a traditional ally of Belarus despite some tensions, called the Western reaction “shocking” and “hypocritical.”

LAST DICTATOR

Belarus – whose President Alexander Lukashenko has been described as “Europe’s last dictator” – has already been under sanctions since 2004.

The EU imposed new sanctions against Belarus in October 2020, despite opposition from EU member Hungary, which heavily depends on oil imports through Belarus.

Those restrictions were imposed in response to the “brutality of the Belarusian authorities and support of the democratic rights of the Belarusian people,” the EU said at the time.

The sanctions, including a travel ban and asset freeze against individuals associated with Lukashenko’s government, have been expanded to include 88 individuals and seven organizations.

Those on the list are forbidden from entering or transiting through EU territories, and their assets are frozen.

In addition, EU citizens and companies are banned from making funds available to any individual and company on the list.

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