The ambassadors agree to close EU airspace to Belarusian airlines

The ban will take effect on Saturday.

Belarusian airlines have been banned from landing and taking off in EU territory and flying over EU territory, diplomats told AFP.

EU leaders gave the green light to such a ban at a summit last month and called on EU airlines to avoid Belarus.

This is the first part of the sanctions that the EU intends to impose on the Belarussian regime for forcibly landing a Ryanair plane in Minsk.

It has already been reported that on May 23, the Belarusian authorities forced a Ryanair plane on its way from Athens to Vilnius to change course and land in Minsk to detain a Belarusian opposition and journalist, Roman Protasevich. Protasevich’s friend Sofia Sapega, who was traveling with him, was also detained.

–

EU leaders also decided to extend the “blacklist” to Belarusian officials, whose funds have been frozen and banned from entering the EU, and to impose sanctions on the Belarusian economy.

European diplomats are expected to complete the list of officials and legal entities subject to individual sanctions as early as next week. These could include ten people involved in landing a Ryanair plane and dozens of people involved in the crackdown on opposition protests.

Meanwhile, officials in Brussels are working on proposals for broader economic sanctions, which could take effect later this month and cover bond sales and potash exports.

The EU has already frozen funds and banned 88 Belarusian officials from entering the EU, including Lukashenko, for suppressing post-election protests.

The International Air Transport Association today criticized the EU’s ban on using Belarusian airspace.

“Aviation security must never be politicized,” said Willy Wells, the association’s head.

“Two violations do not make it right. Politics should never interfere with the safe operation of aircraft and politicians should never use aviation security to cover political and diplomatic goals,” Welsh said.