Belarus Role in Ryanair Landing Was ‘Gangsterism,’ Irish PM Says
- Lukashenko regime’s actions show that it’s ‘weak,’ Martin says
- Belarus detained dissident journalist after diverting aircraft
Boeing 737-8AS Ryanair passenger aircraft from Athens, Greece, landing at Vilnius International Airport, its initial destination.
Photographer: Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images
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Belarus carried out an act of “gangsterism” in diverting a Ryanair Holdings Plc flight last month, Ireland’s Prime Minister, Micheal Martin, said.
Belarus officials re-routed the flight from Athens to Vilnius so the passenger plane landed in Minsk, where authorities detained a dissident journalist who’s been outspoken in his criticism of President Alexander Lukashenko. Governments from Europe to the U.S. rejected Lukashenko’s explanation that the detour under escort by a MiG-29 fighter jet was necessary because of a bomb threat that turned out to be fake.