Roman Protasevich was detained in the Belarusian capital yesterday after Ryanair flight FR4978 was diverted to Minsk shortly before it was due to leave Belarusian airspace
Last night/this morning.
Roman Protasevich was a co-founder of the Nexta TV channel which was declared extremist by Belarus authorities last year after helping to organise mass demonstrations against President Alexander Lukashenko,.
He subsequently fled to Poland and currently faces charges which could carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Minsk’s airport had released a statement saying the aircraft had to make an emergency landing there at 12.15pm GMT following a bomb scare.
the government’s press service said on its own Telegram channel that the president had given the order to divert the flight and had ordered a Mig-29 fighter jet to accompany the plane.
Meanwhile…
This morning.
Forced Ryanair landing state-sponsored ‘aviation piracy’ – Coveney (RTE)
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