FLIGHTS from the UK to Belarus were banned today after a Ryanair flight bound for Lithuania was diverted and a journalist detained on arrival.
European leaders and the US have condemned the Eastern European country after Roman Protasevich, 26, was held after his flight from Athens, Greece, was rerouted to Minsk on Sunday.
Belarus state media said that President Alexander Lukashenko personally ordered a MiG-29 fighter jet to escort the flight to Minsk – but claimed it was in relation to an alleged bomb threat.
Today the UK’s Foreign Secretary slapped down their claims and confirmed a ban would be placed on all flights going to Belarus.
And Dominic Raab told MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon he’d been detained on “spurious charges”.
He described the incident as a “shocking assault on aviation and international law”, representing a “danger to civilian flights everywhere”.
He added: “To ensure the safety of air passengers, I’ve also worked with the Transport Secretary to issue a notice to all UK airlines to cease… flights of Belarusian airspace and to suspend the operating permit on the Belarusian airline Belavia with immediate effect.
He added: “And as a precautionary measure, the UK Civil Aviation Authority will be instructed not to issue any further ad hoc permits to any other carriers flying between the UK and Belarus.”
He went on: “I know the whole House will join me in condemning unequivocally this reprehensible action under the Lukashenko regime.
“The UK will stand firm in protecting freedom of the media, upholding international law and maintaining the safety of international civil aviation.”
In a tweet, Grant Shapps said: “Following the forced diversion of a @Ryanair aircraft to Minsk yesterday, I’ve instructed @UK_CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) to request airlines avoid Belarusian airspace in order to keep passengers safe. I have also suspended Belavia’s operating permit.”
