Belarus asked the Great Britain’s authorities to remove sanctions with the National Airlines “Belavia”, which were introduced after the incident with the Ryanair aircraft in Minsk and the detain of the oppositionist Roman Protasevich. About this in a conversation with RIA Novosti told the Belarusian ambassador to London Maxim Ermolovich.
According to him, now the parties just began to discuss this opportunity, negotiations are conducted through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Transport of the United Kingdom. “We are trying to reach representatives of the state bodies of the UK, to convey to them an objective position against the Belarusian air carrier,” said Ermolovich.
He also indicated that against the background of the upcoming “large-scale” political reforms in Belarus, the changes in its political system and the referendum under the Constitution to the British authorities should think about the removal of all economic restrictions from the republic. “We are waiting for an adequate reaction to these actions by Western countries, including the UK, and would like to start discussing practical questions,” added Ambassador.
Sanctions against the Belavia airline, including a ban on flights in the airspace of the European Union, were introduced after the incident with the Ryanair aircraft in May 2021. The aircraft accidentally sat due to a bomb message, after which Belarusian security forces removed from the flight and detained two passengers: the former Glavreda Opposition Telegram-channel NEXTA Roman Protasevich and his girl Sophia Sappa. Britain called the acting air piracy act.