Today 24 May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Ambassador of Belarus Vyacheslav Kachanov to protest the forced landing of a civilian flight of Ryanair that was on its way from Athens to Vilnius, and the arrest of Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich.
The plane carrying nationals of several European states was heading to Vilnius from Athens when, using a bomb threat and military force, it was diverted to Minsk and a member of the Belarusian opposition, Roman Protasevich, was subsequently arrested.
These steps by the Belarusian regime endangered air traffic and the lives of passengers and flight crew. This kind of action is completely unacceptable and an investigation into all circumstances of this event must be carried out immediately. The journalist and his companion who were arrested after the plane was forced to land must be released immediately, and they must be allowed to leave Belarus if they desire.
Estonia considers this kind of action unacceptable, as it clearly violates international law. The international community must respond to this grave violation of international law, and Estonia has started consultations at the UN Security Council to raise this incident at the Council.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed great regret over the death of political prisoner Vitold Ashurak. Ashurak, who died in a penal colony the day before yesterday, was charged with attending a peaceful demonstration on 9 August last year. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also condemned the blocking of Belarus’ largest news portal Tut.by.
Additional information:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia
Communication Department
[email protected]
