Austria’s foreign ministry insists on an independent international investigation of the incident with the Ryanair passenger plane flying from Athens to Vilnius that made an emergency landing at Minsk’s airport and demanded immediate release of activist Roman Protasevich who was among the plane’s passengers and was detained after the landing.
"Alarming reports about a Ryanair plane that was diverted to Minsk. All passengers must be allowed to continue their travels and we need an independent international investigation into this incident. We urgently demand the release of activist Roman Protasevich," the ministry wrote on its Twitter account.
Berlin also demands immediate explanations from Minsk on the situation around the Ryanair flight and alleged detention of journalist Roman Protasevich, Miguel Berger, Secretary of State of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office said.
"We need an immediate explanation by the Government of Belarus on the diversion of a Ryan Air flight within the EU to Minsk and the alleged detention of a journalist," he wrote on his Twitter account.
The Ryanair plane flying from Athens to Vilnius made an emergency landing at Minsk’s airport after the pilots had reported a bomb threat. The plane landed safely. No bomb was found inside. It was reported after the plane’s landing that former editor-in-chief of the Nexta Telegram channel, which had been recognized as extremist in Belarus, Romat Protasevich was among the passengers. The man was detained.
