Sunday

1st Oct 2023

Lukashenko to face EU sanctions after Ryanair 'hijacking'

  • The Ryanair flight was on its way from Athens to Vilnius (Photo: Linus Follert)

Belarus' "Ryanair hijacking must be sanctioned" and the opposition blogger it snatched must be freed, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has said.

Her unusually strident remarks came after Belarus president Aleksander Lukashenko shocked Europe on Sunday (23 May) by forcing a passenger flight from Athens to Vilnius carrying more than 140 people to make an emergency landing in Belarus instead.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Become an expert on Europe

Get instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

The Ryanair flight 4978 was also carrying a Belarusian opposition blogger Roman Protasevich, who was then snatched.

"I'm facing the death penalty here," Protasevich reportedly told a fellow passenger before police led him away, the BBC reported.

The Irish airline said Belarus authorities told it to land due to a "potential security threat on board".

"Ryanair has informed the responsible national and European security agencies, and we sincerely apologise to all affected passengers for this regrettable delay", it added.

Lukashenko's press service said he also scrambled a Mig-29 warplane.

Ryanair 4978 later flew on to Vilnius, where prime minister Ingrida Simonyte greeted the remaining passengers and said: "This is a completely unprecedented situation you have had to face".

Meanwhile, von der Leyen was just one of many Western voices who pledged a harsh reaction.

"This act of state terror and kidnapping is a threat to all those who travel in Europe and beyond. It cannot be allowed to stand," the US, Ireland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, and the Czech Republic also said in a statement.

"This shocking act perpetrated by the Lukashenka regime endangered the lives of ... passengers, including US citizens," US secretary of state Antony Blinken added.

"We are coordinating with our allies. This outlandish action by Lukashenko will have serious implications," British foreign secretary Dominic Raab said.

The Ryanair hijacking came on the eve of an EU summit on Monday, where leaders were due to discuss Russia relations.

The EU has already blacklisted over 60 Belarusian officials, including Lukashenko, over his crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.

But it has left untouched many pro-Lukashenko oligarchs and refrained from economic sanctions, for instance, on Belarus' petrol and fertiliser industries, until now.

The Ryanair incident recalls the air tragedy over Ukraine in 2014, when Russian forces shot down Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine.

And Latvia and Lithuania said Belarus airspace should be considered unsafe for the time being.

The incident also recalls revelations, earlier this year, that Lukashenko had planned to assassinate Belarusian émigrés in Germany and Ukraine.

"If aircraft can be forced to the ground … in order to punish the political opponents of tyrants, then journalists here in the UK, politicians anywhere in Europe will find it harder to speak out," Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the UK foreign affairs select committee, said on Sunday.

Investigation

Exclusive: Lukashenko plotted murders in Germany

Belarus president authorised political murders in Germany in recent years, according to a sensational recording of his former spy-chief obtained by EUobserver.

EU blacklists Lukashenko and his eldest son

The EU has imposed a visa-ban and asset-freeze on president Alexander Lukashenko and his son, due to the "gravity of the situation" in Belarus after rigged elections in August.

EU to wage economic war on Belarus dictator

EU foreign relations chief Josep Borrell will announce sweeping economic sanctions on Belarus at Monday's foreign affairs meeting after Austria caved to pressure.

Opinion

Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war

While Belarus has not sent its own troops to fight Russia's war in Ukraine, the Minsk dictatorship has been heavily involved. As a result, Belarus must be punished for its involvement — what can the world do to sanction Belarus?

Latest News

  1. EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact
  2. Three steps EU can take to halt Azerbaijan's mafia-style bullying
  3. Punish Belarus too for aiding Putin's Ukraine war
  4. Added-value for Russia diamond ban, as G7 and EU prepare sanctions
  5. EU states to agree on asylum crisis bill, say EU officials
  6. Poland's culture of fear after three years of abortion 'ban'
  7. Time for a reset: EU regional funding needs overhauling
  8. Germany tightens police checks on Czech and Polish border

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersThe Nordic Region is stepping up its efforts to reduce food waste
  2. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators, industry & healthcare experts at the 24th IMDRF session, September 25-26, Berlin. Register by 20 Sept to join in person or online.
  3. UNOPSUNOPS begins works under EU-funded project to repair schools in Ukraine
  4. Georgia Ministry of Foreign AffairsGeorgia effectively prevents sanctions evasion against Russia – confirm EU, UK, USA
  5. International Medical Devices Regulators Forum (IMDRF)Join regulators & industry experts at the 24th IMDRF session- Berlin September 25-26. Register early for discounted hotel rates
  6. Nordic Council of MinistersGlobal interest in the new Nordic Nutrition Recommendations – here are the speakers for the launch

Join EUobserver

Support quality EU news

Join us