EU imposes new economic sanctions on Belarus over flight forced to land in Minsk

EU leaders impose new economic sanctions against Belarus and disciplinary measures against its national airlines after a Ryanair flight was forced to land and a journalist was arrested

25 May 2021, 8:21am

1 min read

In footage released by Belarusian authorities, Roman Protasevich says he is in good health

EU leaders have triggered new economic sanctions against Belarus and disciplinary measures against its national airlines after a journalist was taken off a Ryanair plane forced to land in Minsk.

Roman Protasevich, the journalist in question, was seen on the country’s television news confessing to crimes against the state.

At a summit in Brussels on Monday night, the EU’s 27 heads of state and government condemned the forced landing of flight FR4978 in Minsk and called for the immediate release of Protasevich and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega.

EU leaders agreed to ban the Belarusian airlines from the bloc and urged EU-based carriers not to fly over its airspace.

The leaders also warned they would adopt further "targeted economic sanctions" against the Belarusian authorities to add to the 88 regime figures and seven companies already on a blacklist over a crackdown on the opposition.

The EU statement came shortly after a video was released by the Belarus government in which Protasevich denied reports he had suffered health problems since his arrest in the Belarusian capital and said he was confessing to inciting mass riots a charge that carries a charge maximum prison sentence of 15 years. The video, which appeared to have been filmed by police, was Protasevich’s first appearance since his arrest.

US President Joe Biden also condemned the actions of the Belarus government. He welcomed EU sanctions, adding that his team was assessing “approbate options.”