world
May 25, 2021 – 17:38

The European Union is urging airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace in response to the suspension of a passenger flight between Greece and Lithuania.

Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus since 1994, ordered the Ryanair plane to land in Minsk on Sunday to arrest a journalist, Roman Protasevich, and his girlfriend, reports The Economist, Klan Kosova reports.

President Joe Biden called it “a direct insult to international norms.”

EU leaders also began the process of banning Belarus-based airline Belavia Airlines from EU territory, making it impossible for it to continue its journey west.

world
May 24, 2021 – 22:01

Arrested Belarusian journalist Raman Protasevich said in a video that he was cooperating with the authorities.

“I can say that I do not have health problems. I continue to cooperate with investigators and I am being questioned about organizing mass protests in the city of Minsk,” he said.

Minsk authorities dismissed “rumors” on social media that Protasevich had been hospitalized and said they had no information about any of the journalist’s health problems.

Pratasevich has been the administrator of the NEXTA Live channel on Telegram, a platform that has covered protests that have erupted in Belarus since the election.

Belarusian authorities launched an investigation into Pratasevich and his colleague Stsyapan Putsila in November on suspicion of organizing mass disorder, disrupting social order and inciting hatred.

In October last year, a court in Minsk declared the NEXTA channel and its logo extremist.

You can read the full article HERE.