Ryanair Boeing 737-8AS (flight No. FR4978) at Minsk International Airport after being diverted from its Lithuania-bound flightpath. /AFP
An opponent of Belarusian president was arrested on Sunday – after a MiG-29 fighter jet forcibly diverted the Ryanair plane on which he was traveling following an alleged bomb threat, according to multiple media reports citing the country's Interior Ministry.
Opposition leaders have called the diversion of the plane that carried dissident journalist Roman Protasevich a 'hijacking' by the Belarus authorities and European leaders have condemned the action.
The press service of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the president himself ordered that a MiG-29 fighter jet accompany the airliner after he was informed of the bomb threat.
According to the country's law enforcement authorities, no bomb was found on board.
Deputy air force commander Andrei Gurtsevich said the plane's crew made the decision to land in Minsk, but Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda claimed the plane was forced to land there.
"I demand to free Roman Protasevich urgently," tweeted Nauseda.
Who is this journalist?
Protasevich, 26, cofounded Poland-based online news service NEXTA, a popular opposition outlet in Belarus. Last year, the outlet was declared as extremist after it was used to help organize major protests against Lukashenko.
According to New York Times, the Belarus native has been living in Lithuania for the past few years in exile for his fear over a prison sentence of up to 15 years in his home country.
AFP reported that Protasevich had turned to fellow passenger Monika Simkiene "and said he was facing the death penalty."
"He was not screaming, but it was clear that he was very much afraid," another passenger, Edvinas Dimsa, recalled, according to AFP.
Belarusian opposition journalist Roman Protasevich arrives for a court hearing in Minsk, Belarus, April 10, 2017. /Reuters
Data from the flightradar24.com website showed the plane was diverted just two minutes before it was due to cross into Lithuanian airspace. After seven hours on the ground in Minsk, the plane took off and finally landed in Vilnius where Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte was waiting to meet the passengers, based on Reuters report.
Belarus's top investigative agency said it had opened a criminal case into a false bomb threat.
Latvia's Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics called Belarus's action "contrary to international law" and called for a "strong and effective" reaction, while Germany demanded an "immediate explanation" from Belarus.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the forced landing and arrest a "shocking act," demanded Protasevich's immediate release and said President Joe Biden's administration was "closely coordinating our response with our partners."
Read more:
In The Spotlight: The Belarus boss and his accidental defier
Opinion: Will Lukashenko survive a nationwide strike?
(With input from AP, Reuters, AFP)