The largest fraction of the European Parliament – the European People’s Party (UNP) – called for a complete cessation of flights with Belarus after the forced landing of the Irish Ryanair LouroSter in Minsk and the arrests on board the creator of the Telegram channel NEXTA Roman Protasevich. It is reported by RIA Novosti.
The Fractions also called for the fourth package of sanctions against Belarus.
previously in the French government reported that the European authorities think to stop airfares over Belarus, to introduce a ban on flights of the National Carrier of Belavia in the EU airports and suspend the ground transportation with the country. The Bloomberg agency reported with reference to the sources that the EU leaders will study the issue of expanding sanctions against Belarus at a meeting on Monday evening, May 24.
On May 23, the airline of the Ryanair airline, following the route Athens – Vilnius, made an emergency landing in Minsk after reports of mining received from Minsk airport. To accompany the aircraft, the Fighter MiG-29 of the Air Force of Belarus was raised. Immediately after landing, Belarusian security forces detained on board Protasevich. Data on explosive devices on board the liner was not confirmed.
In the European Commission called the incident with the landing of the aircraft unacceptable. The head of the international diplomacy of the EU Jozep Borrel demanded an international investigation.
Minsk authorities consider it guilty of creating extremist formation and calls to mass riots after the presidential elections in August 2020.