European Union responds to Belorussian aggression By Jordan Conestabile
The European Union recently proposed the banning of Belarus Airlines from using airspace and airports of the 27-member nations following the forced landing in Minsk of a Ryanair commercial flight between Greece and Lithuania.
The Belorussian government grounded the flight due to an unfounded bomb threat then apprehended Roman Protasevich, a journalist critical of President Alexander Lukashenko who had been living outside of Belarus since 2019 and was charged in November of terrorism against the regime. Pratasevich was removed from the flight with the assistance of KGB agents who were on board.
Roman Protasevich (wikipedia)
Dr. Jun Kwon, Chair of Political Science and International Studies at Utica College described international condemnation as “very legitimate” though noted it was “uncertain how effective those sanctions will be, given the relationship between Russia and Belarus.” Lukashenko’s dictatorship survived major protests last year, buoyed by the support of President Vladimir Putin in Russia.
Alexander Lukashenko (wikipedia)
Critics contend the actions of the Belorussian government constituted state sponsored abduction and assault.
A subsequent video of Pratasevich supposedly confessing appeared to be administered under coercion and duress, which has happened to other Belorussian political prisoners.
While Pratasevich’s fate is unclear, European leaders clearly believe that no Western airline is safe traveling through Belorussia.
Jordan Conestabile is a Political Science student at Utica College
