Da Belarusian thread

[Duque de Bragança]

Glad we added a Caucasian war to the troubles of our age.

White Caucasian privilege! 

[The Larch]

Also the EU has agreed sanctions (Not fully clear what bribery/pressure was brought to bear on Cyprus - but probably worth it).

They were asking for equal sanctions on Turkey for their Mediterranean "aggression", so maybe they were promised something as EU might have to consider it for Turkey's Armenian war as well.

Yeah - it'll be interesting to see what they get out of this (and much as it would have been nice to see sanctions sooner - fair play to Cyprus, they had leverage and used it).

The compromise struck at the summit that satisfied Cyprus was an agreement to review Turkey's behaviour in December and impose sanctions if its "provocations" have not stopped.

"In case of such renewed actions by Ankara the EU will use all its instruments and options available," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday after the summit concluded. "We have a toolbox that we can apply immediately."

"The EU issues a clear threat of sanctions against Turkey should it continue to violate international law," Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Twitter after the meeting.

The European Council's Michel described the approach as a "double strategy" towards Ankara, offering closer relations on trade and other fronts but holding out the threat of sanctions if it fails to de-escalate tensions in the Mediterranean.

"It was the most that Merkel would bear," said an EU diplomat after the talks. "She felt the Union should give Turkey a chance for another few weeks. But Turkey has been put on notice and the ball is in its court."

[Sheilbh]

I feel like if I were in the Cypriot government I would be disappointed by that.

[Josquius]

Depends how binding the "do something again and we will be very cross" is I guess.
Considering Turkey isn't currently messing around in Cypriot waters having withdrawn its last mission already, I guess phrasing it this way is the most constructive.

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Depends how binding the "do something again and we will be very cross" is I guess.
Considering Turkey isn't currently messing around in Cypriot waters having withdrawn its last mission already, I guess phrasing it this way is the most constructive.

Turkey is now preoccupied with some genocide in Nagorno-Karabach

[Valmy]

The rise of China as a new world power makes people adopting their ways expected. Genocide and concentration camps are back folks!

[Sheilbh]

This should be a major story if confirmed.

Reports that a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius was in Belarussian airspace and ordered to land in Minsk where a journalist critical of Lukashenko's regime was taken from the plane and detained. Some reports that a fighter jet was used to compel the plane to land.

Apparently the journalist is Roman Protasevich of the Nexta Telegram channel which is the main social media channel for covering the protests and regime violence against them. He faces the death penalty in Belarus.

The flight map:


It looks like the essentials have been confirmed by Meduza and Tsikhanouskaya has issued a statement but the details are still sketchy.

[Liep]

That story is absolutely insane. According to Twitter KGB agents boarded the plane in Athens then Belarus made up a bomb threat on the plane when it entered Belarussian airspace and forced it to land in Minsk with fighter jet where they arrested the journalist.

[Syt]

I assume transiting airlines will avoid Belarussian airspace going forward.

[Sheilbh]

I mean to divert a plane with a bomb scare you planted is insane. It's basically just hijacking a civilian plane

NATO and the EU have to respond in some way to show solidarity with Lithuania and Greece.

[Liep]

I mean to divert a plane with a bomb scare you planted is insane. It's basically just hijacking a civilian plane

NATO and the EU have to respond in some way to show solidarity with Lithuania and Greece.

It's terrorism: "Then when the plane has entered Belarus airspace KGB officers initiated a fight with the Ryanair crew insisting there's an IED onboard. Eventually the crew was forced to send out SOS (literally moments before the plane would've left Belarus airspace). MiG-29 took off and escorted it to Minsk."

[The Brain]

Insane.

[grumbler]

I mean to divert a plane with a bomb scare you planted is insane. It's basically just hijacking a civilian plane

NATO and the EU have to respond in some way to show solidarity with Lithuania and Greece.

It's terrorism: "Then when the plane has entered Belarus airspace KGB officers initiated a fight with the Ryanair crew insisting there's an IED onboard. Eventually the crew was forced to send out SOS (literally moments before the plane would've left Belarus airspace). MiG-29 took off and escorted it to Minsk."

That's not terrorism, that's either piracy or an act of war, depending on whether Belarus set it up or not. 

One immediate and appropriate action would be to ban all flights to or through Belarus, until Belarus releases the kidnapped man.

[Razgovory]

That is an intolerable attack on two NATO countries.

[celedhring]

That is an intolerable attack on two NATO countries.

We're deeply concerned, here's a list of 25 Belarrusian officials that can no longer shop in Milan. Thanks.