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Poland to charge three Belarusians for diverting Ryanair flight in 2021

Polish prosecutors have enough evidence to charge 3 Belarusian residents over the required landing in Minsk in 2021 of a civilian airliner bring an opposition reporter, who was then jailed, Polish authorities said on Friday.

In what some EU leaders at the time called a hijacking, the Ryanair flight from Athens to Lithuania was diverted to the capital of Belarus accompanied by a MiG-29 fighter jet. On landing, dissident Belarusian reporter Roman Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend Sofia Sapega were apprehended.

The plane was signed up in Poland.

In a declaration, Polish district attorneys stated they had chosen to bring charges versus three Belarusians they recognized as: Leonid C. (former director of the Belarusian air navigation firm), Yevgenia T. (head of the air traffic control shift in Minsk) and Andrey AM (head of the KGB).

Polish law does not enable the publication of the surnames of individuals dealing with criminal charges.

The charges relate to taking control of the Ryanair flight by supplying the flight crew with false details about an declared explosive device on board the airplane, they added.

This resulted in the unlawful deprivation of liberty of 132 individuals on board the aircraft, including residents of the Republic of Poland.

District attorneys said the suspects were not in Poland. Arrest warrants were provided and prosecutors said they would submit a. court movement to provide European Arrest Warrants and request. Interpol to start a search with a red notice.

The European Union banned Belarus providers from flying over. its territory or having access to its airports as part of. sanctions enforced after the 2021 event.

Protasevich was sentenced to 8 years in jail in May. 2023 for offences including prompting terrorism, arranging mass. disruptions and slandering Belarusian President Alexander. Lukashenko, however pardoned later the same month, Belarusian state. media reported. Sapega was likewise pardoned in June 2023.

(source: Reuters)