President Biden backs Belarus sanctions and condemns forced plane landing
26 May, 2021
US President Joe Biden slammed Belarus on Mon for the “outrageous” action of forcing a trip from Greece to Lithuania to property in Minsk so a good dissident journalist onboard could possibly be arrested.
Roman Pratasevich, 26, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, 23, were detained following the flight found its way to the Belarusian capital on Sunday.
“This outrageous incident and the video Mr Pratasevich appears to have produced under duress are shameful assaults on both political dissent and the freedom of the press,” Mr Biden said, using an alternative solution spelling of the activist’s name, after Belarusian TV broadcast video of Protasevich “confessing” to charges of organising mass unrest.
“I welcome the news headlines that europe has needed targeted financial sanctions and other procedures, and also have asked my workforce to build up appropriate options to hold accountable those responsible,” Mr Biden said.
Belarus’s strongman leader Alexander Lukashenko sparked international outrage by sending a fighter plane to intercept the Ryanair trip from Athens to Vilnius carrying Protasevich and his partner, who is Russian.
EU leaders decided on Monday to trim oxygen links with Belarus. The bloc explained it could adopt further “targeted monetary sanctions” against Belarusian authorities, in addition to the 88 regime statistics and seven companies previously on a blacklist over a crackdown on opposition.
Lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Mon urged Mr Biden to direct the Federal government Aviation Administration to prohibit US aircraft from getting into Belarus air space after the Ryanair flight’s diversion.
“In order to keep travellers and crew safe, we desire you to prohibit most US airlines from getting into Belarusian airspace, and encourage our allies and companions to accomplish the same,” Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, and Senator Marco Rubio, a good Florida Republican, wrote found in a letter to Mr Biden.
IT footage showed Protasevich - who could face 15 years in jail - with dark markings on his forehead, and said he had been treated “based on the law”.
“AMERICA joins countries around the world in calling for his release, aswell for the release of the a huge selection of political prisoners who are being unjustly detained by the Lukashenka regime,” Mr Biden said.
The White House added that National Secureness Advisor Jake Sullivan had spoken to exiled opposition innovator Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, to mention “the United Claims’ strong support for the requirements of the Belarusian persons for democracy, man rights, and fundamental freedoms”.
White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke to Ms Tsikhanouskaya on Mon.
“Mr Sullivan clarified that america, in co-ordination with the EU and additional allies and companions, will contain the Lukashenko regime to profile,” NSC spokeswoman Emily Horne stated in a statement.
Source: www.thenationalnews.com
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