MEPs call for strong action against Belarus’ regime

Casa: It is time that the EU walked the talk: action not words today

Members of the European Parliament, from the various political groups, have called on the European Council and the European Commission to suspend flights over the Belarussian airspace, to suspend all the air connections between the European Union and Belarus, as well as to start a full inquiry into the breaches of international aviation rules. This call has been made in a strongly-worded letter, led by the European Parliament’s Media Working Group co-Chaired by Maltese Member David Casa, following the hijacking of the Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius yesterday.

“What happened yesterday is outrageous. Today’s European Council should take concrete action against the illegitimate regime of Aleksander Lukashenko. What we saw yesterday is state-sponsored terrorism: a hijack of a flight between an EU capital to another EU capital, so that a journalist and his partner are arrested. Both should be released from Belarus as soon as possible,” insisted the Quaestor of the European Parliament David Casa.

Yesterday, Belarussion journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega were kidnapped and arrested after the flight they were on, was forcefully diverted to Belarus, by the Belarussian regime. This besides the forceful escort of 171 passengers on the aircraft.

In their letter to the European Council President, to the European Commission President, to the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and to the European Commissioner for Transport, the Members of the European Parliament called for strong action. “This act of state-sponsored terrorism has brutally attacked the European Union, jeopardising the safety of the passengers and crew. This must be addressed with a strong and united European response.”

MEP Casa, together with the other MEPs, insisted on extended sanctions towards Lukashenko personally, as well as towards all those responsible for these acts. “It is high time that the EU walked the talk. I expect concrete actions taken by the Heads of State and Governments during today’s meeting in Brussels. We should be united against illegitimate regimes and in protecting journalists,” concluded Casa.

The letter is being attached to this press release.