EU imposes harsh sanctions on Belarus; Flights, investments suspended

Brussels/Minsk: – Intense repercussions of hijacking a flight to arrest journalist Roman Protasevich and his colleague Sofia Sapega are being felt in western circles. The European Union (EU) convened an urgent meeting and imposed harsh sanctions against Belarus. The EU warned that these sanctions are the first stage of the action, and Belarus should be prepared for more severe consequences. US President Joe Biden denounced the Belarus action and warned that even the United States would be imposing sanctions against the country. Latvia, the neighbour of Belarus, expelled Belarus diplomats from the country.

On Sunday morning, a Ryanair flight to Lithuania from Greece was hijacked and landed at the Minsk airport forcibly. It has been exposed that a fake bomb warning was issued, and a fighter jet was sent to force the aeroplane to land. Belarus claimed that the terrorist organisation Hamas planted the bomb on the plane. Hamas dismissed the claim.

Roman Protasevich and his colleague Sofia Sapega, travelling on the aeroplane, were detained by the Belarus authorities. Roman Protasevich was sent to prison and was forced to confess under duress. Since August last year, the agitation has been started against Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. Roman Protasevich was a leader in spreading information regarding the turmoil through social media and taking the initiative in organising the protests.

Protasevich, who left Belarus in 2019, started operating from Lithuania. On Sunday, the Lukashenko government forcibly detained Protasevich, on his way to Lithuania, after attending a program on Saturday in Greece. This act of hijacking an aeroplane only to arrest a journalist has elicited intense reactions from Europe.

The United States and the EU have reacted that this is an act of hijacking and have demanded an inquiry into the incident. The EU held an emergency meeting regarding the subject. The decision to impose sanctions against Belarus has been taken into the discussion. Airlines from Belarus have been handed out a flight ban, and the country will not be allowed to use the European airspace. At the same time, orders have been issued to the European airlines not to use Belarus airspace. The EU also suspended the Investment Package that was to be provided to Belarus, worth 3 billion Euros.

EU informed that steps are being initiated to impose tough economic sanctions against Belarus, along with the flight ban and suspension of investment. Along with the EU, even the United Kingdom has announced a flight ban and indicated that more sanctions are in the pipeline. The United States supported the sanctions imposed by the EU and the United Kingdom. The White House said that the Biden administration also would impose fresh sanctions against Belarus. NATO and the United Nations has demanded the immediate release of journalist Roman Protasevich from the Belarus government.

Meanwhile, Latvia, a neighbour of Belarus, lowered the Belarus flag during an international competition. Latvia reacted that the flag was lowered to protest against the hijacking of the aeroplane and arrest of journalist Roman Protasevich. The tension between the two countries festered with this action, and both the countries expelled each other’s diplomats.