Warning to airliners to avoid Belarusian air space

Yesterday the UK government issued a notice to airlines to avoid flying over Belarusian airspace, ensuring the safety of passengers and putting the UK at the forefront of the international response towards Belarus.  

  • The diversion of a passenger aircraft on Sunday by the Belarusian authorities, in a further move in their ongoing war against independent journalism and opposition voices, was a shocking assault on civil aviation and international law.
     
  • That is why, to ensure the safety of air passengers, The British government has issued notice to all UK airlines to cease overflights of Belarusian airspace, and has suspended the operating permit on the Belarusian airline Belavia with immediate effect.
     
  • The UK has also called for the council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation to urgently look into this matter, and is working with international partners and allies on a shared response - including through the UN security council, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and at the G7.
     
  • The Foreign Secretary has made it clear that the UK calls for the immediate release of journalist Roman Protasevich and other political prisoners held in Belarus. 
     
  • The UK government condemns the reckless actions of the Belarusian authorities and insists that the safety of passengers must be put first.  

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