site.btaBelarusian Ambassador Summoned in Foreign Ministry for Explanations about Forced Flight Landing in Minsk, Arrest of Belarusian Dissident Journalist Protasevich

May 25 (BTA) - The Ambassador of Belarus in Sofia, Alexander Lukashevich, was summoned to an urgent meeting with the head of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry's Bilateral Relations directorate, Vasily Takev, on Tuesday, the Foreign Ministry said in a press release. Lukashevich was asked for explanations regarding the forced landing of the Ryanair flight in Minsk on May 23 and the subsequent arrest of Belarusian dissident journalist and blogger Roman Protasevich.


The explanations presented by the diplomat, which expressed the official position of the Belarusian authorities, were not accepted by Bulgaria as justified and in line with the international law, the Foreign Ministry said. Bulgaria supports the request for an immediate and swift investigation of the case by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The actions of the Belarusian authorities were described as absolutely unacceptable and "a gross violation of the rules of international aviation and flagrant disregard for the fundamental rights and freedoms of passengers," the Foreign Ministry said, and also referred to the joint position of the EU member states expressed in the conclusions adopted at the special European Council meeting on May 24.

During the meeting with Ambassador Lukashevich, Bulgaria repeatedly called for the immediate release of the arrested journalist and a careful assessment of the negative consequences of this unprecedented act for Belarus' relations with the EU.

The Ambassador undertook to relay the position expressed by Bulgaria, the press release said.

Later on Tuesday, Bulgarian caretaker Foreign Minister Svetlan Stoev said, answering a reporter's question during a briefing in the Ministry, that "such a thing happens for the first time, this is air piracy, and I don't know if we are aware of the scale it may reach".

"In addition to the forced landing, the question of the personal data of passengers onboard, emerges. How these personal details are obtained, how they are submitted to the respective services and who has access. If this becomes routine, I think that we will be facing new challenges in air transport," said Stoev. He confirmed that there were no Bulgarians onboard the plane. NV/ZH, PP

/МЙ/