International media freedom organization Reporters Without Borders has formally asked Lithuanian prosecutors to investigate Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his associates for the offense of criminal hijacking.
A letter sent to the prosecutor general’s office asks that the incident be investigated as “hijacking of an aircraft with criminal intent” as defined in articles 251 and 252-1 of Lithuania’s criminal code.
On Sunday, a Ryanair plane flying between Greece and Lithuania was intercepted by a Belarusian military jet and forced to land at Minsk airport. The authorities claimed there was a bomb on board and made all passengers disembark on the plane.
They then arrested opposition journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sophia Sega. A further four people also disembarked the plane, believed to be Russians before the passengers were allowed to get back on and the plane could depart.
Protasevich and his girlfriend were then taken into custody where it was feared he would be subjected to torture and mistreatment. The journalist is accused of inciting opposition protests that started in 2020, extremism, inciting social hatred, and organizing riots. He is potentially facing the death penalty.
Following widespread outrage and condemnation from human rights organizations, media freedom groups, politicians, and civil society, as well as the threat of sanctions from the EU, Belarusian authorities published a “confession” video featuring Protasevich.
In it, he can be seen looking tired and drawn, clasping his hands and speaking quickly. He confesses to the charges against him and says he is being treated well and in line with the law.
The video was criticized as being a flagrant violation of his rights and was believed to be made under duress.
Members of the European Parliament from all groups called on the Council and Commission to suspend all flights over Belarus and between the country and the EU and to start a full inquiry into the breach of aviation rules.
The EU then announced it would introduce additional sanctions against Belarusian individuals which would be announced in due course. It also asked the International Civil Aviation Organisation to investigate the action which led to the plane being hijacked.
RSF has dismissed Minsk’s claim that there was a bomb on board and has said this is “clearly fabricated.”
“We decided to file a complaint against Alexander Lukashenko himself because he was the direct instigator of this act of hijacking for terrorist purposes, and the term is not excessive,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.
“The Lithuanian criminal code penalizes hijacking a plane ‘by threatening the lives or health of the crew or passengers’ and defines ‘terrorist aim’ as ‘intent to intimidate the public or part of the public.’ By this unprecedented act, Alexander Lukashenko wanted to reinforce intimidation of the public, especially journalists.”
They state that Lukashenko endangered the lives of the crew and passengers and had the sole aim of intimidating the public, especially all critical journalists in Belarus.
It reads:
“There is no doubt that Protasevich’s arrest, following an unprecedented hijacking of an international plane, is intended to intimidate all Belarusian journalists, inside and outside the country. This event is intended to show them that, wherever they are, they can be apprehended by the regime and put in prison. It shows that the regime will not hesitate to arrest anyone who criticizes it.”
The organization has also claimed that by attacking a European aircraft that was flying between two EU capitals, Belarus was attempting to “destabilize the EU” by testing the reactions of the EC.
Lithuanian law allows for charges to be pressed regardless of the defendant’s nationality or place of residence, in the case where the crime is related to terrorism or terrorist activity.
RSF said the Lithuanian prosecution must hold Lukashenko to account while considering anyone else who was involved and responsible.
