A Ryanair flight headed to Vilnius, Lithuania, from Athens, Greece, on Sunday was diverted to Minsk, where Belarus authorities removed and arrested journalist Roman Protasevich, who, according to The Washington Post, could face the death penalty.
State media said Roman Protasevich, resident in Lithuania, was detained in the Belarusian capital on Sunday after Ryanair flight FR4978 was diverted to Minsk shortly before it was due to leave Belarusian airspace.
Roman Protasevich, 26, was aboard the Ryanair plane, which was flying from the Greek capital, Athens. The aircraft was due to land in Vilnius, but was still in Belarusian airspace when it was told to divert it to their own capital, Minsk, BBC reported.
Journalist, blogger and activist Roman Protasevich, 26, is the former editor of Nexta, a Warsaw-based media group that played a prominent role in covering and directing the huge protests that erupted against Lukashenko last year after the dictator claimed victory in a deeply flawed election.
Many in the international community are condemning the actions and considering a joint response. US and European leaders condemned a move by Belarus to force a Ryanair flight bound for Lithuania to land in Minsk so that it could arrest a leading opposition activist who was travelling from Athens to Vilnius.
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, called it “utterly unacceptable” and warned that those responsible must be sanctioned.
“We strongly condemn the Lukashenka regime’s brazen and shocking act to divert a commercial flight and arrest a journalist. We demand an international investigation and are coordinating with our partners on next steps. The United States stands with the people of Belarus,” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday condemned the forced landing of a Ryanair flight by Belarus and the arrest of an opposition journalist on board, calling it a “shocking act” that endangered the lives of U.S. citizens and everyone else on board.
In a statement, Blinked vowed that the U.S. would respond with its allies in the region, and called for the “immediate release” of journalist Raman Protasevich, who according to reports, was detained by Belarusian security forces after the flight landed.
” Independent media are an essential pillar supporting the rule of law and a vital component of a democratic society. The United States once again condemns the Lukashenka regime’s ongoing harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists. We stand with the Belarusian people in their aspirations for a free, democratic, and prosperous future and support their call for the regime to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms,” said Blinken.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
