KGB Hijacks Flight to Arrest Journalist.

[Milchshake]

Sounds like an insane plot in 2021. But not unexpected from kleptocrat governments.

Belarus arrests journalist Roman Pratasevich after diverting Ryanair flight to Minsk.

• KGB operatives boarded the plane in Athens this morning together with Roman Protasevich
• 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. Security services entered the plane and arrested Protasevich.

Raman Pratasevich is a Belarusian journalist and Belamova editor. He actively covered the events of the 2020 election campaign and the subsequent protests. Belarusian security forces started several criminal cases against him, the KGB put him on the terrorist list.




Violates the Freedoms of the Air stuff by so many different angles

OP Warnings:

1) Stay on topic. After much derailing, discussion needs to remain around the involved parties and little else. At this point, collectively failing to do so will result in thread closure.

2) Stay civil. Calling each other bots, shills, paid agents, or bashing each other's homelands isn't okay. Neither are comments against people's comprehension or intelligence.

[jonnysensible]

He faces the death penalty there as well. Shoot your local dictator lads.

When all they do is get 'we are gravely concerned' from Europe and the US, the other bastards will be up to this petty shit soon enough.

[Acidbaron]

He faces the death penalty there as well. Shoot your local dictator lads.

When all they do is get 'we are gravely concerned' from Europe and the US, the other bastards will be up to this petty shit soon enough.

Three rounds of sanctions from the EU, you might argue it is not enough and in that case you are free to propose an alternative.

I know people fantasize about things like an actual invasion or assassination but the first is not realistic and will cause more issues and the latter how would that make the EU any better than them?

Bit more than simply a statement about being concerned you can read it here

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/p...ng-repression/

[Specialka]

He faces the death penalty there as well. Shoot your local dictator lads.

When all they do is get 'we are gravely concerned' from Europe and the US, the other bastards will be up to this petty shit soon enough.

What more do you want ? Ground invasion ? Sanctions are like the most they can do before war.

[Sorshen]

Unfortunately, sanctions also hurt the (many) people that protested against Lukashenko's rigged elections, but something must be done.

[Lynarii]

What more do you want ? Ground invasion ? Sanctions are like the most they can do before war.

If the Belarus government is willing to hijack a civilian plane, it is clear it's airspace is not safe. You suspend any and all air travel into, out of, or over Belarus from the EU until they can guarantee the safety of civilian aircraft.

This is different than a third party attack that happened to happen within their airspace, or an unfortunate accident that is unlikely to be repeated. They sent a fighter jet to kill everyone on board that plane if the pilot didn't follow their demands.

[Shalcker]

He faces the death penalty there as well. Shoot your local dictator lads.

When all they do is get 'we are gravely concerned' from Europe and the US, the other bastards will be up to this petty shit soon enough.

Once you remove possibility of economic benefits and make them contingent on destruction of existing power structures, why would anyone currently holding the reins of power "play ball" with EU, UK, or US sensibilities?

Not like US (or Turkey) didn't do the same when it fit them.

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If the Belarus government is willing to hijack a civilian plane, it is clear it's airspace is not safe. You suspend any and all air travel into, out of, or over Belarus from the EU until they can guarantee the safety of civilian aircraft.

This is different than a third party attack that happened to happen within their airspace, or an unfortunate accident that is unlikely to be repeated. They sent a fighter jet to kill everyone on board that plane if the pilot didn't follow their demands.

Do other Belorussian oppositional figures plan to do overflights above Belarus?

As there doesn't seem to be any other reason behind it this stunt is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.

(just like US didn't repeat forced plane checks after Snowden/Morales affair)

[Mihalik]

Once you remove possibility of economic benefits and make them contingent on destruction of existing power structures, why would anyone currently holding the reins of power "play ball" with EU, UK, or US sensibilities?

Not like US (or Turkey) didn't do the same when it fit them.

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Do other Belorussian oppositional figures plan to do overflights above Belarus?

As there doesn't seem to be any other reason behind it this stunt is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.

(just like US didn't repeat forced plane checks after Snowden/Morales affair)

Ladies and gentlemen, we got our official comuniqué from our local Kremlin spokesperson.

Step 1. Downplay. (Dude's gonna get executed)
Step 2. Whataboutism.

[Azadina]

People involved with this need to be put under arrest warrant for terrorism EU wide. Because that's what they did, a terrorist attack.

[Shalcker]

Ladies and gentlemen, we got our official comuniqué from our local Kremlin spokesperson.

Step 1. Downplay. (Dude's gonna get executed)

He faces charges that can, depending on sentencing, go up to that level.

Possible, but i see that as unlikely. If Lukashenko would have wanted to show executions then he already has plenty of opposition detained.

Step 2. Whataboutism.

Countries do that now and then. Including Western countries.

It's breach of etiquette (and agreements), but all countries do have right to control their airspace... and if they feel that gain out-weights the cost (and for once-in-a-decades event costs are generally quite minor), they do it.

[Lynarii]

Once you remove possibility of economic benefits and make them contingent on destruction of existing power structures, why would anyone currently holding the reins of power "play ball" with EU, UK, or US sensibilities?

Not like US (or Turkey) didn't do the same when it fit them.

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Do other Belorussian oppositional figures plan to do overflights above Belarus?

As there doesn't seem to be any other reason behind it this stunt is unlikely to be repeated anytime soon.

(just like US didn't repeat forced plane checks after Snowden/Morales affair)

There were more people on that plane than just the journalist in question. The fact that the Belarus government was willing to murder them all to get to him is not something you just hand wave away. And most people don't have a detailed plot of the route that any commercial plane they board will take ahead of time. In fact, a big part of why international air treaties exist is so that you don't /have/ to. Belarus violated those treaties in an openly terrorist action. They are a rogue state.

[Shalcker]

People involved with this need to be put under arrest warrant for terrorism EU wide. Because that's what they did, a terrorist attack.

They already most likely cannot visit EU due to previous sanctions though.

...so, it would be hollow gesture.

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There were more people on that plane than just the journalist in question. The fact that the Belarus government was willing to murder them all to get to him is not something you just hand wave away.

"Wanted to murder them all" remains unproven. Did they even threaten to "murder them all"? As far as i'm aware they used "bomb threat".

And most people don't have a detailed plot of the route that any commercial plane they board will take ahead of time.

You can see it on Flight Radar... planes generally fly in a way that wastes least fuel, so any flight between two points is quite predictable.

In fact, a big part of why international air treaties exist is so that you don't /have/ to. Belarus violated those treaties in an openly terrorist action. They are a rogue state.

So, what is penalty set in those treaties for breaching them?

[Lynarii]

They already most likely cannot visit EU due to previous sanctions though.

...so, it would be hollow gesture.

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"Wanted to murder them all" remains unproven. Did they even threaten to "murder them all"? As far as i'm aware they used "bomb threat".

You can see it on Flight Radar... planes generally fly in a way that wastes least fuel, so any flight between two points is quite predictable.

So, what is penalty set in those treaties for breaching them?

A bomb threat on a plane is a threat to kill everyone on board. What the hell do you THINK a bomb does on a plane? Also, they sent a fighter jet. The only thing a fighter jet can do to a commercial airliner is shoot it, the point of having a fighter jet there is a "If you don't do what you're told, we blow you out of the sky".

You know all this, and you'd be making the same arguments yourself if it was any other country doing it to a Russian plane.

[Specialka]

A bomb threat on a plane is a threat to kill everyone on board. What the hell do you THINK a bomb does on a plane? Also, they sent a fighter jet. The only thing a fighter jet can do to a commercial airliner is shoot it, the point of having a fighter jet there is a "If you don't do what you're told, we blow you out of the sky".

You know all this, and you'd be making the same arguments yourself if it was any other country doing it to a Russian plane.

Get down your high horse, there was no bomb on board. They just knew they would have to land the plane in Minsk if they said there was a bomb on board.

[Shalcker]

Bomb threat comrade.

Quoting DW:
Belarusian state news agency Belta reported that the plane had been rerouted to Minsk International Airport for an emergency landing due to a bomb scare.

Belarusian officials said Lukashenko had personally ordered a MIG-29 fighter jet to accompany the passenger plane.

An airport spokesperson told Belta that although authorities did not find any explosive devices on the plane.

The opposition Telegram channel Nexta also reported that the plane was searched. The outlet said its former editor, Roman Protasevich had been detained.

"The plane was checked, no bomb was found and all passengers were sent for another security search," said Nexta. "Among them was... Nexta journalist Roman Protasevich. He was detained."

That's what we have so far. Where did you see "murder them all" exactly?

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A bomb threat on a plane is a threat to kill everyone on board. What the hell do you THINK a bomb does on a plane? Also, they sent a fighter jet. The only thing a fighter jet can do to a commercial airliner is shoot it, the point of having a fighter jet there is a "If you don't do what you're told, we blow you out of the sky".

That's implicit threat, sure; one that usually doesn't get realised because pilots have no reason to push their luck.

Was there actual threat of that being made along the way?

You know all this, and you'd be making the same arguments yourself if it was any other country doing it to a Russian plane.

Well, i'm on other side, so of course i'm providing other side of this dance.

It's terrible, sure. It also cannot be solved by sanctions.

[draynay]

Get down your high horse, there was no bomb on board. They just knew they would have to land the plane in Minsk if they said there was a bomb on board.

Yeah... they only want to kill one guy on board, high horse!

[Azadina]

They already most likely cannot visit EU due to previous sanctions though.

...so, it would be hollow gesture.

So you admit to them being terrorists already suffering from earlier punishment of their actions? Hollow gesture, you're absolutely right; it would be in this light. We'll have to try something else. Since the offenders keep repeating terrorism on behalf of the country in question, maybe the country should be treated like it's an illegitimate rogue terrorist nation from now on.

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Get down your high horse, there was no bomb on board. They just knew they would have to land the plane in Minsk if they said there was a bomb on board.

So...terrorism? That's cool with you?

[Specialka]

So you admit to them being terrorists already suffering from earlier punishment of their actions? Hollow gesture, you're absolutely right; it would be in this light. We'll have to try something else. Since the offenders keep repeating terrorism on behalf of the country in question, maybe the country should be treated like it's an illegitimate rogue terrorist nation from now on.

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So...terrorism? That's cool with you?

How could you arrive to that conclusion, I can't fathom.

[Shalcker]

So you admit to them being terrorists already suffering from earlier punishment of their actions?

No, that previous punishment is over treatment of opposition that contested election results.

...clearly sanctions didn't help with that at all.

Hollow gesture, you're absolutely right; it would be in this light. We'll have to try something else. Since the offenders keep repeating terrorism on behalf of the country in question, maybe the country should be treated like it's an illegitimate rogue terrorist nation from now on.

There would be no practical differences over how you already treat them.

And of course serious economic sanctions will push it straight into Russian arms.

[Specialka]

No, that previous punishment is over treatment of opposition that contested election results.

...clearly sanctions didn't help with that at all.

There would be no practical differences over how you already treat them.

And of course serious economic sanctions will push it straight into Russian arms.

A dictator joining another dictator, not that we would miss him.