Georgian Foreign Ministry echoes Belarus flight diversion

Georgian Foreign Ministry (MFA) echoed the forced diversion of a plane carrying a Belarusian opposition activist Roman Protasevich on Sunday.

Protasevich has been arrested in Belarus after President Alexander Lukashenko ordered a fighter jet to escort his Ryanair plane to Minsk, according to CNN.

Georgian Foreign Ministry said “all the passengers must enjoy the freedom of safe travel. Their forced detention is completely unacceptable.”

“We welcome the safe landing of the Ryanair flight to its original destination – Vilnius and are happy for the people onboard. All the passengers must enjoy the freedom of safe travel. Their forced detention is completely unacceptable,” MFA tweeted on Monday.

We welcome the safe landing of the @Ryanair flight to its original destination – Vilnius, ?? & are happy for the people onboard. All the passengers must enjoy the freedom of safe travel. Their forced detention is completely unacceptable.

— MFA of Georgia (@MFAgovge) May 23, 2021

The European Union, the US, and the UK have condemned the diversion of a flight by Belarus on Sunday to arrest a journalist.  European leaders will discuss the situation today.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said, “the outrageous and illegal behavior of the regime in Belarus will have consequences. Those responsible for the Ryanair hijacking must be sanctioned.”

The outrageous and illegal behaviour of the regime in Belarus will have consequences.

Those responsible for the #Ryanair hijacking must be sanctioned.

Journalist Roman Protasevich must be released immediately.

EUCO will discuss tomorrow action to take.

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 23, 2021