Title: Swift and Severe Consequences Demanded for Belarus' Unacceptable Actions
Imagine being a journalist in exile, critically documenting a dictator's tyranny, and finding yourself on a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius that's forced to land in the dictator's homeland. This frightening scenario is what one journalist, Roman Protasevich, experienced when Belarus, ruled by long-time dictator Alexander Lukaschenko, intercepted the plane and arrested the pro-democratic activist.
Enough is enough.
Over the past few years, numerous dictators have blatantly violated established norms, murdering government critics, assassinating journalists, and seizing territories of other nations, seemingly with impunity. The numbing sequence of events includes the annexation of Crimea by Russia, the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Saudi Arabia, and most recently, the detention of US journalist Danny Fenster in Myanmar. These offenses, casually repeated with seeming predictability, undoubtedly challenge the international community's sense of morality and security.
Dictators need to be stopped. By allowing Lukashenko's latest move to slip by unchecked, other authoritarian leaders would be emboldened to expand their lawlessness, resulting in only minor repercussions. Additionally, such complacency imperils travel, especially for journalists known to irk dictators, regardless of their location or destination.
The incident's details lightly hint at state-sponsored terrorism. According to the dictator's office, he "personally" ordered a MiG-29 fighter jet to intercept the commercial airliner, purportedly due to alleged bomb threats and concerns for the passengers' safety. The merchant aviation authorities persuaded the Ryanair crew to divert the flight to the nearest Minsk airport. However, the real motive may have been far more sinister.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary asserts that several passengers aboard the flight were likely agents of the Belarussian KGB. But as cowardly as the actions were, the international community would not stand idle. The EU and many nations across the globe loudly condemned Belarus' actions, demanding Roman Protasevich's immediate release.
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These developments push leaders of the EU to agree to prohibit their airlines from flying over Belarus, a remarkable swift action by a body known for its deliberation. Such measures should merely be the prelude to wider-ranging penalties aimed at penalizing Lukashenko for his transgressions and casting a warned sign to other prospective dictators inspired by his deeds.
