The plane had to land in Belarus’ capital Minsk, writes among others German DW Sunday.
According to the Russian media TV Rain, Belarusian fighter jets were sent on the wings to force the passenger plane down into Minsk, even though the distance to the destination Vilnius was shorter.
There had been reports of possible explosives on board, unnamed sources say Baltics.news.
The Ryanair plane is said to have flown from Athens to Vilnius to arrest the famous Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich. In Belarus, the journalist will be met with the death penalty, writes journalist Franak Viacorka on Twitter on Sunday afternoon.
BREAKING! The regime landed @Ryanair plane, which was flying from Athens to Vilnius,in order to arrest the famous Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich. In Belarus, he faces the death penalty. Belarus has seized a plane,put passengers in danger, in order to repress an opponent pic.twitter.com/TEv22to5XM
– Franc Viačorka (@franakviacorka) May 23, 2021
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Belarus has seized a plane and put passengers in danger of suppressing an opponent, Belarusian journalist Franak Viacorka reports on Twitter.
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claims Twitter that Belarusian authorities made the plane land so that they could arrest the journalist and activist Raman Pratasevich.
The information has not been confirmed by official sources.
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