Surprising move, don't believe they'd do this without Russian support and encouragement.
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Surprising move, don't believe they'd do this without Russian support and encouragement.
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I was about to create a thread on this. Shocking and awful.
All airlines need to ensure the airspace above Belarus is a no fly zone.
This effectively should be an Act of War, but I wonder what retaliation if any will occur because of this?
I agree, they must expect either Russia being on board with this in principle or have gotten a green light ahead of doing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aimless
I never heard of the man who was kidnapped but I feel we should do all we can do to put pressure on the dictatorship of releasing him. Declaring all Belarusian diplomats in the EU persona non grata seems a good first step to destroy their capacity to pull this sort of tricks.
He was the owner of the main Telegram channel used to coordinate protests. He's facing anywhere from 12 years in prison to execution.
What I don't understand is that the captain decided to fly to Minsk, even though it's original destination of Vilnius was significantly closer. I know it was ordered by Belarusian Air control to divert to Minsk. But in the end even the most urgent directions given by air control in an emergency situation are merely suggestions which the person flying the plane follows or doesn't follow at his/her own discretion.
Legally, Belarus had shared jurisdiction over that flight when it was in their airspace, and they could therefore order it to land at Minsk.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazir
Didn't Belarussian jets intercept the plane? Rather awkward for a commercial airline in what has become hostile airspace, facing what are now armed and hostile jets ordering a diversion, to not divert.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazir
What's a shame though looking at the map, seeing where the plane was when they were first hailed and where they were when they were intercepted, its a shame they didn't turn west and make it to Polish airspace. No idea if doing that would be possible, safe or legal.
But the biggest shock of all is that Ryanair are today flying in Belarus airspace (!)
The EU really need to come down hard on this, and I would support the UK supporting our European neighbours in any sanctions.
Reasonable first steps:
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Better be some big names on the sanctions list in a few weeks' time.
What a tepid response.
No wonder it was very quickly agreed, it was the very least that could be done.
I agree.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aimless
Most of the big names are already under sanctions.
Big Russian names I mean :oQuote:
Originally Posted by Loki
Hamas has its tendrils everywhere... /s
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Rocket propelled paratroopers invading Minsk.
Which is precisely why the very lame response last night will have no impact whatsoever, other than clearing the skies. Responding to an Act of War by threatening targetted sanctions against a regime already subject to targetted sanctions is about as useful as Michael Palin slapping someone with a small fish.Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki
Will be interesting to see whether/when UK chooses to apply significant sanctions in response to this event:
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The real prizes are targeted sanctions on key Russians + putting the final nail in the coffin for Nord Stream 2. Think punitive measures are more likely to go via NATO, and that any significant punitive measures will have to await an investigation that supports a significant sanctions-justifying role for Russia.
Sanctions against Russia may indeed come into play. Especially given that Belarus is on its way to union with Russia.
For a flight that was an EU airliner, taking off from an EU capital, to another EU capital?Quote:
Originally Posted by Aimless
What has the UK got to do with it? Albeit the UK did the flight restrictions hours before the EU did, but that's moot really.
I said I'd support the UK joining in with the EU on sanctions, though none have been forthcoming yet.
Absolutely 100% Nordstream should be cancelled, it should have been cancelled many, many years ago. Will be interesting to see whether they do or not, and whether NATO is invoked it absolutely should be but again that's for the injured party to invoke.
Belarus has been on its way to a union with Russia since the mid-1990s. Won't happen. There's also no evidence (as of now) Russia was involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazir
You believe Minsk didn't at least believe that they had Russian backing?Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki
Quote:
Originally Posted by Loki
I'll be surprised if they don't uncover reasonably credible evidence of coordination with GRU, even if it might take a while. Don't know whether the other group of passengers that disembarked in Minsk at the same time (the ones alleged to have started a fight on the plane going on about an explosive device) will be shown to have anything to do with it, ofc.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazir
Lukashenko frequently puts Putin in a bad situation; he knows Putin has no choice but to support him. I wouldn't rule out Russia being warned of this in advance, but there's also no solid proof of such a warning.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hazir
The others who disembarked were likely some combination of Belarusians who basically skipped a leg of their trip and Belarusian KGB. Again, it's possible some of them were Russian intelligence, but there's no evidence.