Belarus forces Ryanair flight out of the sky in order to arrest opposition journalist

[Swift]

That's some crazy ass ####.


https://www.theguardian.com/world/20...ays-opposition

Belarus has been accused of hijacking a European jetliner and engaging in an act of state terrorism when it forced a Ryanair flight to perform an emergency landing in Minsk after a bomb threat and arrested an opposition blogger critical of authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko.

Roman Protasevich, a former editor of the influential Telegram channels Nexta and Nexta Live, was detained by police after his flight was diverted to Minsk national airport. Minsk confirmed that Lukashenko ordered his military to scramble a Mig-29 fighter to escort the plane.


The Polish prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said the plane had been “hijacked” and accused Lukashenko of a “reprehensible act of state terrorism”. He said he would demand new sanctions against Belarus at a European Council meeting scheduled for Monday.


Tom Tugendhat, the chair of the UK foreign affairs select committee, said: “If aircraft can be forced to the ground … in order to punish the political opponents of tyrants, then journalists here in the UK, politicians anywhere in Europe will find it harder to speak out.”


He joined counterparts from the US, Ireland, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic in condemning the action as “an act of piracy” and calling for the suspension of all overflights. “This act of state terror and kidnapping is a threat to all those who travel in Europe and beyond. It cannot be allowed to stand,” they said in a joint statement.


“We are coordinating with our allies,” said Dominic Raab, the UK foreign secretary. “This outlandish action by Lukashenko will have serious implications.”


Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said EU leaders would decide on the repercussions for Belarus at Monday’s meeting.
He said: “I call on Belarus authorities to immediately release the detained passenger and to fully guarantee his rights. EU leaders will discuss this unprecedented incident tomorrow during the European Council. The incident will not remain without consequences.”

[JD]

Even Putin is following this story saying "Wow that Lukashenko is ballsy AF!"

[Snuffleupagus]

Originally Posted by JD

Even Putin is following this story saying "Wow that Lukashenko is ballsy AF!"

Putin is more likely thinking he's a dumb ass, shoot them on a bridge, strangle them in their home or poison works better. no proven ties or witnesses!

[Huntingwhale]

This is so messed. It's a big uproar in the EU news here, all over the news. Lukashenko is a psychopath of the worst kind. Wish someone would just choke him out or take a shot at him or something and get it over with. Let that country and it's people move forward and be free from his regime, like millions of Belarussians wanted last "election".

[Swift]

EU heads of state have agreed to ban Belarusian airlines from accessing EU airspace, and have called on EU carriers to avoid Belarusian airspace. Good, glad some action is being taken rather than just mouthing off.


The Russians of course are "shocked" by the EU's actions. The UK foreign minister suggested that the Russians were probably notified by Lukashenko and gave approval for it to happen.

[chemgear]

Probably don't want to fly near China if your name is Michael.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by JD

Even Putin is following this story saying "Wow that Lukashenko is ballsy AF!"

More than likely it was orchestrated with help from the Russians and almost certainly would have been given the a-okay from Putin. I mean Russia is already throwing their support behind it.

[JD]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

More than likely it was orchestrated with help from the Russians and almost certainly would have been given the a-okay from Putin. I mean Russia is already throwing their support behind it.

Well sure but like Snuffleupagus points out, Putin's methods seem to normally be a bit more subtle. Publicly they're supporting it but I can't help but to think behind the scenes, there's some "WTF were you thinking??" conversations going on.

Of course I'm looking at this through a different lens than Putin would.

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by JD

Well sure but like Snuffleupagus points out, Putin's methods seem to normally be a bit more subtle. Publicly they're supporting it but I can't help but to think behind the scenes, there's some "WTF were you thinking??" conversations going on.

Of course I'm looking at this through a different lens than Putin would.

IMO this is perfect for Putin, for a number of reasons:

- it's another dangerous military-civilian escalation in the recent "envelope pushing" that Russia and China (and the US under Trump, yet to be seen with Biden) have been undertaking in their spheres of influence.
- He gets to see how the world reacts to another dictator doing this (not him directly). He knows that very little is actually done about his poisoning assinations, so what about something another level more bold?
- If this leads to Lukashenko's demise somehow, no doubt Putin will use it as pretext to invade Belarus and "guarantee" peaceful transition of power or some BS.

It's all wins. Causes additional global chaos, has potential to offer more destabilization to the European Union, and isn't pinned directly to him.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by JD

Well sure but like Snuffleupagus points out, Putin's methods seem to normally be a bit more subtle.

Daytime assassinations or attempts in other countries like Litvinenko and the Skripals? The jailing and mistreatment of Navalny?

There's nothing subtle about anything Putin does. There's plausible deniability. The same he gets here. Shrugs his shoulders and says "we didn't help or say it was okay *wink wink* but we're here for you Belarus."

But I doubt Belarus decides it's okay to go against Europe and the west without double checking with the hand that feeds them.

And of course Russia wants this. The more isolated Belarus is from Europe, the more they are beholden to Russia. The less stable the borders are. It's what they've been doing for years.

[undercoverbrother]

Even Hamas is like "Yo leave us out of this Bro"

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Daytime assassinations or attempts in other countries like Litvinenko and the Skripals? The jailing and mistreatment of Navalny?

There's nothing subtle about anything Putin does. There's plausible deniability. The same he gets here. Shrugs his shoulders and says "we didn't help or say it was okay *wink wink* but we're here for you Belarus."

But I doubt Belarus decides it's okay to go against Europe and the west without double checking with the hand that feeds them.

And of course Russia wants this. The more isolated Belarus is from Europe, the more they are beholden to Russia. The less stable the borders are. It's what they've been doing for years.

There will be a Russian-Belarusian Anschluss within our life time. I also guarantee it.