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The Ryanair flight carrying journalist Raman Pratasevich from Greece to Lithuania was diverted to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, on orders from Belarusian flight controllers.
Belarusian flight controllers ordered the Ryanair pilot to divert his flight to Minsk, citing a bomb threat. However no bomb was found, but Pratasevich and his Russian girlfriend were arrested.
Also read: Bomb Threats to Capture Belarusian Opposition Ryanair Flight
Putin also criticized statements coming from some in the West that his country participated in diverting Pratasevich’s flights.
“NATO is in danger if the NATO leadership makes such a statement,” Putin snapped about Western accusations that Russia may have been involved in the diversion of the flight.
“This reveals a lack of understanding of the procedure,” he added as quoted by Newsweek, Saturday (5/6/2021).
Asked whether Russia would act like Belarus and divert international flights if it knew that someone on the wanted list was on the plane, Putin smirked and said: “I won’t tell you.”
On that occasion, Putin also warned the West not to interfere in the internal affairs of Belarus after the arrest of Raman Pratasevich on May 23.
Many Western countries are outraged by Pratasevich’s arrest after his Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was diverted to Minsk, the capital of Belarus, on orders from Belarusian flight controllers. They call the step taken by the Belarusian government is piracy.
Also read: EU bans planes from crossing Belarusian skies after Ryanair ‘piracy’ incident
Putin said that Western anger came from Western countries seeking to influence developments in Belarus after Pratasevich wept and apologized for his opposition to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on state TV on Thursday.
Putin, who offers strong support for Belarus, called the angry Western response to the flight diversion a manifestation of double standards. He pointed to a 2013 incident in which a private plane carrying Bolivian President Evo Morales landed in Vienna after several European countries refused to let it cross their airspace. It is said that this was done on speculation that Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information from the United States government (US), was in it.
Also read: At war with Europe, Belarusian president gets Putin’s support
(ian)
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