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“We need very specific measures and, most importantly, measures to change the behavior of the Belarusian regime, otherwise we will simply have to say that we have a very threatening neighbor on our side, who ignores any international norms, not only the law, but also moral and human standards. And we cannot tolerate that, “the president said at a news conference Sunday night.
Belarusian authorities ordered a Ryanair plane flying from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk on Sunday.
Doing so is law enforcement detained 26-year-old journalist, activist R. Protasevičius, who flew by plane.
The West condemned Minsk’s actions and called for the journalist’s release..
According to Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsbergis, there were not two Belarusian citizens and four Russians flying from Athens on the Minsk to Vilnius flight.
“This is information that we have now, but we will be able to confirm it when the plane lands,” he told a news conference.
According to G.Nausėda, it is clear that R. Protasevičius and his girlfriend are not on the plane.
Aims to intimidate
According to G. Nausėda, by applying repression, the regime seeks to intimidate the Belarusian opposition and civil society.
According to the president, Lithuania may initiate a ban on the landing of the Belarusian airline Belavia at EU and NATO airports.
15-minute photo / Belavia plane carrying passengers from Vilnius to Minsk
“We request the release of R. Protasevičius. Secondly, if this is not done, we will talk about very serious sanctions, which are also at the disposal of the EU.
However, there are other sanctions or measures that could be applied to the regime, including the recognition of Belarusian airspace as an unsafe area for civil aviation, including the disqualification of Belavia aircraft from landing at EU and NATO airports. ” said G. Sedimentation.
AFP / Photo by Scanpix / Gitanas Nausėda at the EU Summit
Landsberg said he spoke with EU High Representative Josep Borrell about possible sanctions on Belarus.
“My request for him to establish a position immediately today is that Lithuania believes that the Belarusian airspace is no longer safe and that commercial flights should not be conducted in it. I hope to be heard,” the foreign minister said.
According to G. Nausėda, a detailed investigation is also needed in the International Civil Aviation Organization, answering the questions of what happened, “in the middle of the white day, the act of state terrorism was carried out”, and what needs It must be done to prevent such actions from happening again in the future.
When asked about other sanctions that could be applied to Belarus at the national and EU level, G. Nausėda said that he did not want to anticipate tomorrow’s discussion in the European Council.
Terrorist act initiated by the State
According to G.Landsbergis, no one remembers the situation that happened today with a plane flying from Athens to Vilnius.
“It just came to our attention then. It is a terrorist act. A terrorist act initiated by the State against the international community ”, said the Chancellor.
Luke April / 15min photo / Gabriel Landsbergis
According to G. Landsbergis, it is especially regrettable for R. Protasevičius, who was arrested in Minsk.
He mentioned that, according to witnesses, the Belarusian journalist was escorted to the airport waiting room by two people in civilian clothes. Probably security personnel.
“And the only thing we can tell the regime is that the response will and will be tough,” he said.
Landsberg reported that he had asked the Attorney General’s Office to initiate a pre-trial investigation into the possible hijacking of the plane by the Belarusian regime.
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