The regime forced the landing @Ryanair plane in Minsk to arrest journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich. He faces the death penalty in Belarus. We demand immediate release of Raman, @ICAO investigation, and sanctions against Belarus. pic.twitter.com/ondPBd0kU9
– Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) May 23, 2021
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Tihanovska’s adviser, journalist Franak Vyachorka, says that the plane was on its way from Athens to Vilnius. According to him, the flight was stopped to arrest a 25-year-old journalist who is facing the death penalty in Belarus.
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“Belarus has hijacked the plane and threatened passengers to crush the opponent,” the journalist said.
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The press service of Minsk Airport told the Interfax news agency that the plane with 120 passengers had to land in the Belarusian capital because a report was received that a bomb was hidden in it, and the plane is currently being searched by a sapper.
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Meanwhile, Lina Beišiene, a representative of the Lithuanian airport operator Lietuvos oroostasai, told the BNS news agency that she did not have such information, but that the plane was diverted to Minsk due to a conflict between passengers and crew members.
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The plane had to land at 13:00 in Vilnius, but information from the Flightradar platform shows that it had already approached the Lithuanian border when it suddenly changed course.
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Tihanovsky demands the immediate release of Protasevich and calls on the International Civil Aviation Organization to investigate and impose sanctions on Belarus.
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“From now on, no one flying over Belarus can be safe,” the opposition leader said.
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Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs also expressed his position on the incident: “This is completely unacceptable and contrary to international law. Ludmašīna and ALL its passengers must be released immediately and allowed to go to their destination. The international response must be strong and effective,” the minister emphasized.
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