The main affected by the ban on the flights of Belarusian airlines to Europe can become residents of the country, and not its leadership. About this, the leader of the French movement “National Association” Marin Le Pen stated in an interview with BFM TV channel.
Le Pen called forced landing of the Irish Ryanair LouroSter in Minsk and the detention of NEXTA Roman Protasyevich who was on board the creator of the Telegram channel of NEXTA Roman Protasevich a serious violation of international law, noting that a flurry of critics fell into the Belarusian government. “[But] When sanctions are imposed, they should be directed to political leaders, and not affect the lives of ordinary people who are not responsible for what happened,” politician said.
Earlier, the European Union decided to prohibit Belarusian airlines to fly to the airports of its countries and be in their airspace. In addition, the Summit of the Heads of the European Union states urged the International Organization of Civil Aviation (ICAO) to investigate the incident with the Ryanair flight in Belarus and promised to introduce new sanctions against Minsk.
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. He is accused of creating extremist formation and calls to mass riots after the presidential election in August 2020.