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Belarus President defends diverting plane and arresting journalist
The President of Belarus has called out his critics, saying they are “waging hybrid warfare” and “strangling” his country
As nations around the world continue to impose sanctions, the country’s leader, Alexander Lukashenko says “many red lines” have been crossed.
It follows a Ryanair jet flying from Greece to Lithuania being forced to land in Minsk before Belarusian authorities arrested an anti-government activist who was onboard.
26-year-old Roman Protasevich was detained and charged with criminal offenses and says he fears the death penalty.
At the time, Belarusian officials said the reason for the plane’s forced landing was a bomb threat – but this claim has not yet been authenticated.
Lukashenko says he “had to protect people,” and “was thinking about the country’s security.”