EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrell called for an international investigation into the incident with the Ryanair plane landing in Minsk, as a result of which the founder of the Nexta Telegram channel Roman Protasevich was detained.
“This is another blatant attempt by the Belarusian authorities to silence all opposition voices”, – the statement reads.
Borrell demanded the immediate release of the journalist. According to him, the Belarusian authorities endangered the safety of passengers and crew.
“This situation will be discussed at the upcoming meeting of the Council of Europe. The EU will consider the consequences of the incident, including taking measures against those in charge”, – the head of European diplomacy concluded.
The Ryanair plane, flying from Athens to Vilnius, on May 23 urgently landed at the Minsk airport due to a message about mining, which turned out to be false. This flight was flown by Protasevich, the founder of the Nexta Telegram channel recognized as extremist in Belarus and the chief editor of the Brain Belarus Telegram channel also recognized as extremist.
He was detained while checking documents.
In the republic, the journalist is charged under the criminal articles “Organization of mass disorder” (up to 15 years in prison) and “Organization of group actions that grossly violate public order” (up to three years in prison). In addition, a case was initiated on the commission of “deliberate actions aimed at inciting social enmity on the basis of professional affiliation” (the maximum sentence is 12 years).
Many Western politicians and officials have called for an international investigation into the incident, which they saw as the forced landing of an aircraft flying between two EU states on the territory of a third country.