The Belarus plane hijacking reflects appeasement of tyranny
Al JazeeraLukashenko hijacked a European civil aircraft because he thought he could get away with it. On May 23, the world watched as Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko used his air force to intercept a civilian airliner on the pretext of a bogus bomb threat, grounded it in Minsk, and kidnapped prominent opposition journalist Roman Protasevich and his fiancé before eventually freeing the other passengers. Lukashenko’s paranoia has reached levels of utter absurdity, from appearing in public wielding a gun to locking up people for wearing white and red socks – the colours of the opposition flag. Immediately after last year’s post-election uprising, the Kremlin, Belarus’s main benefactor, sent a team of Russia Today propagandists to Minsk after many of Lukashenko’s own state journalists resigned in protest. Apart from forceful sanctions, it is important to direct more support to independent media both in and outside Belarus to enable the country’s beleaguered but brave citizens to continue documenting the regime’s abuses, organising resistance and fighting for a better future.
History of this topic
Poland charges 3 Belarusian officials with diverting a plane to Minsk in 2021 to arrest a dissident
Associated Press
Poland charges 3 Belarusians who forced the diversion of a plane to Minsk in 2021
The Independent
US sanctions Belarus’ election officials, president’s plane
Associated Press
Suspects of group that destroyed Russian plane detained: Belarus
Al JazeeraA UN agency is blaming Belarusian officials for a hoax that grounded Roman Protasevich's flight. Here's how it all unfolded
ABC
U.S. charges Belarus officials with air piracy in reporter's arrest
NPR
Belarusian airline stops flying Middle East citizens from Turkey
Al Jazeera
Opinion: The ugly reality behind Belarusian Olympian Kristina Timanovskaya’s defection
CNN
Belarus opposition leader seeks new US, European sanctions
Associated Press
Belarusians increasingly cornered after EU cuts air links
Associated Press)
Belarus Flight Incident Will Have an Impact on the International Air Travel, Here's How: FAQ
News 18
Belarus’ isolation grows after journalist’s dramatic arrest
Associated Press
Ryanair ‘hijack’ to Minsk could have serious consequences for Belarus
The Independent
Belarus airspace quiet as EU airlines skirt country
The Independent)
EU imposes air traffic curbs on Belarus after plane diversion in Minsk to arrest dissident journalist
Firstpost
Belarus’ isolation grows after plane diverted to arrest journalist
LA Times
EXPLAINER: What was behind a jet’s diversion to Belarus?
Associated Press
Editorial: Belarus must pay if it hijacked a flight to capture a dissenter
LA Times
Belarus plane diversion: What you should know, in 500 words
Al Jazeera
Airlines avoid Belarus after ‘state-sponsored hijacking’ of Ryanair flight
CNN
World reacts to plane ‘hijacking’, arrest of journalist
Al Jazeera
Belarus opposition figure detained when flight diverted
Associated Press
Opponent Of Belarus' Authoritarian President Arrested After Flight Diverted To Country
Huff Post
Belarus condemned for ‘hijacking’ Ryanair plane to detain journalist
CNN
A Ryanair Flight Carrying An Opposition Journalist Is Forced To Land In Belarus
NPR
Belarus Intercepts Flight Carrying Opposition Activist
NPR
Belarus activist arrested after fighter jet intercepts his Ryanair flight
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