Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stressed that Belarus' actions constitute a threat to international peace and security. ‘By hijacking a passenger plane flying between Athens and Vilnius, and arresting a journalist critical of the government as well as his companion, the Belarusian regime has committed an act of state terrorism and must take responsibility for its actions,’ said Kallas.
Prime Minister Kallas added that the European Union will continue to prepare for the swift imposition of additional sanctions on Belarusian officials and companies closely linked to the regime, and will develop economic sanctions.
The Government of the Republic of Estonia’s no-fly zone sanction is imposed in connection with the forced diversion of a Ryanair passenger jet by Belarus to Minsk on 23 May. A Belarusian MIG-29 military aircraft and a bomb threat forced a passenger plane from Athens to Vilnius to land, with more than 100 passengers from 17 countries on board, including passengers from EU Member States. The Belarusian authorities detained Roman Protasevich, an independent Belarusian journalist and co-creator of the Telegram channel NEXTA, who was on board the flight with his companion.
At its extraordinary meeting on 24 May, the European Council, in addition to imposing economic sanctions, called on all Member States' airlines to avoid flying over Belarus. The leaders of the member states also called on the Council of the EU to adopt the measures necessary to impose an overflight ban on Belarusian airlines in EU airspace and to prevent flights operated by these airlines from reaching EU airports.
