Will Belarus become even more isolated than it is at present? One of the last Communist-style dictatorships in Europe has already been hit by international sanctions from the European Union and other Western nations. But the Hijacking of a Ryanair plane by the military and secret services is a further step in the repression of a pariah state. The theft of Ryanair was flying from Athens to Vilnius in Lithuania. Its forced landing in Minsk on the pretext of a bomb on board led to the arrest of a dissident to the regime.
There was widespread indignation in Europe and around the world on Monday morning. The Prime Minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Simonyte, said that this an act of state piracy could not go unpunished. She suggests that flights over Belarus should be banned from now on, in view of the danger involved. " This is in fact state-sponsored air piracy." confirmed the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney.
France has therefore asked the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to suspend the international overflight of Belarusian airspacebut also that theEuropean Union to ban the landing of local airline Belavia. The ban could also apply to land links, particularly by train, between Belarus and its EU neighbours.
A conflict that now involves Russia
The first company has already reacted: Air Baltic has indicated that it will no longer fly to or over Belarus. On Tuesday, Air France-KLM and Lufthansa also suspended flights over the country. On Thursday 27 May, 16 out of 33 flights between Minsk and the EU were cancelled. On Friday 28, Minsk airport announced the cancellation of all flights to Germany, Finland, Poland, the Baltic States and Prague. The situation is unlikely to return to normal any time soon. At least until publication of a report by the International Civil Aviation Organization at the end of June.
The conflict now extends to Russia's powerful neighbour. The country has stepped up to the plate to defend its Belarusian ally tooth and nail. As a result, the Russian authorities withdrew their flight permit from Air France and Austrian Airlines. Air France had to cancel two flights to Moscow and Austrian Airlines one flight. On 28 May, it seems that Air France has cancelled its flight again. The Putin government invoked the ban on taking an alternative route (via the Baltic States and Finland). Aeroflot has also decided not to fly to Vilnius from Moscow.
(Updated on 28/05/21 at 10:00)
