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The Ryanair flight finally landing in Lithuania after it was first diverted to Belarus Alamy Stock Photo

Diverted Ryanair flight investigation concludes that Belarus' actions were 'unlawful'

A Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Belarus last year.

THE UNITED NATIONS agency in charge of investigating the diversion of a Ryanair flight by Belarus last year has completed its review, once again pointing the finger at the “unlawful” actions carried out by Minsk.

A Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to land in Minsk on 23 May 23, 2021, with Belarusian authorities arresting dissident journalist, Roman Protasevich, and his partner, Sofia Sapega, who were on board.

“The ICAO Council concluded its discussions yesterday on the May 2021 incident in Belarus airspace involving Ryanair Flight FR4978, condemning the actions of the Government of Belarus in committing an act of unlawful interference,” the International Civil Aviation Organization said in a statement.

The investigation was extended in early January to establish certain “missing facts” and examine new information.

The Montreal-based ICAO studied audio recordings of the Minsk air traffic controller who was monitoring the affected flight.

The agency said that the bomb threat used as excuse to divert the aircraft was “deliberately false and endangered its safety.”

“The threat was communicated to the flight crew upon the instructions of senior government officials of Belarus,” it concluded.

The statement added that the council representative of Russia — a close ally of Minsk — had “expressed his State’s strong objection to identifying Belarus as the source of the unlawful interference which took place.”

It said that the council, made up of 36 countries, had asked its president to pass the findings of the investigation on to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The ICAO’s mission is to enact the rules governing global civil air transport, but it has no power to impose sanctions.

In the event of a proven violation of international rules, its role is to provide support for any countries wishing to pronounce condemnations or apply sanctions, in accordance with the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the institution said.

Last month, Sapega asked for a pardon from Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko after being sentenced to six years in prison for “inciting social hatred” and “illegal collection of personal data.”

Protasevich is currently under house arrest pending trial.

© AFP 2022

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    Mute George Vladisavljevic
    Favourite George Vladisavljevic
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:12 PM

    Liquid natural gas, fracked gas, increased coal burning for power plants. Reopening of nuclear plants, shipping more and more natural gas, oil and coal from around the world, mostly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and we are going to get penalised and fined for the peatlands.

    Someone really needs to grow a pair and tell the EU Commision to sod off and that we are living in very challenging times.

    271
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    Mute Ciaran O'Mara
    Favourite Ciaran O'Mara
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:24 PM

    @George Vladisavljevic: I disagree. Ireland has broken the law for many years. We were warned in 2011 to stop it. The Commission has been far to slow in enforcing the rules. It is shameful that we won’t protect our own heritage.

    98
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    Mute Alan Kenny
    Favourite Alan Kenny
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:55 PM

    @Ciaran O’Mara: They have been happy to pay the fine due to VRT. Ah sure why don’t they buy some energy credits. It’s a shambles, designed by people who will never be affected by their policies

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    Mute Peter Donoghue
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    Sep 30th 2022, 2:55 PM

    @Ciaran O’Mara: define what you mean by heritage ?

    19
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    Mute Urban Living Dublin
    Favourite Urban Living Dublin
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    Sep 30th 2022, 3:22 PM

    @Peter Donoghue: natural heritage perhaps? Our greatest sources of biodiversity and largest carbon sinks?

    13
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    Mute Gavin Tobin
    Favourite Gavin Tobin
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    Sep 30th 2022, 6:44 PM

    @George Vladisavljevic: no someone needs to stand up to greedy culchies wrecking SACs

    8
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    Mute Alan Kenny
    Favourite Alan Kenny
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    Sep 30th 2022, 12:21 PM

    Bord Na Monas industrial scale cutting of the bogs has caused this. Now the farmer suffers. Always the way.

    110
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    Mute Dave Barrett
    Favourite Dave Barrett
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    Sep 30th 2022, 1:33 PM

    Keep cutting lads. Centuries old custom of heating dwellings

    107
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    Mute Michael Keegan
    Favourite Michael Keegan
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    Sep 30th 2022, 2:32 PM

    @Dave Barrett: when are the disadvantaged in Dublin getting their turf

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    Mute Urban Living Dublin
    Favourite Urban Living Dublin
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    Sep 30th 2022, 3:20 PM

    @Dave Barrett: no more modern amenities for you so. Replace that Avensis with a horse and cart and pull the copper wire out of your house, candles only from now on. And wait, what are you doing on the Journal.ie? Shouldn’t you be sending handwritten letters to the Dublin Penny Journal instead?

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    Mute Peter Donoghue
    Favourite Peter Donoghue
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    Sep 30th 2022, 2:49 PM

    Friends of Irish Environment (FIE) have little to be at !! .. reporting people . What active activity are they ever engaged in ? .
    As for the EU – We the people of Ireland should have the right to make and enforce our own rules, instead of a band of Nazi’ shoving legislation down our throats

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    Mute Daniel Morrissey
    Favourite Daniel Morrissey
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    Sep 30th 2022, 7:51 PM

    An absolute farce… all about control from the EU.. stop cutting the turf lads.. we need your carbon credits for the data centres…
    Off topic… Will the Italian’s make an attempt at getting out of the EU…

    35
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    Mute Kenny Hyslop
    Favourite Kenny Hyslop
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    Sep 30th 2022, 1:22 PM

    Arrest the people doing it, take their companies, close them down and put them in prison.
    Oh no wait, this is Ireland.
    Do nothing and say you can’t fix it overnight, 12 years later.

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    Mute Ken Red
    Favourite Ken Red
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    Sep 30th 2022, 8:54 PM

    What ever about people burning for heat, their is also the industrial scale harvesting of peat for gardens in the UK Westfield and others

    10
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