'Passenger Plane Forced Landing' Despite International Criticism, Opposition Activist Arrested and Media Shutdown Measures Taken
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] The Belarusian government has arrested additional opposition figures despite strong international criticism over the forced landing of an aircraft.
On the 30th (local time), the Associated Press reported that Aliaksei Shota, editor-in-chief of the opposition-leaning internet news outlet 'Hrodna.life' in the western Belarusian city of Hrodna, was arrested. Shota had collaborated with 'Tut.by,' Belarus's most popular internet portal and an independent media outlet.
Belarusian police stated that Shota is under investigation for posting extremist materials.
Earlier, on the 18th of this month, the Belarusian government arrested 15 Tut.by staff members and subsequently shut down the Tut.by website. Belarusian authorities claimed that Tut.by violated media-related laws by spreading prohibited information.
The Belarusian government's closure of the Tut.by site followed by Shota's arrest demonstrates its continued crackdown on opposition figures.
Previously, on the 23rd, the Belarusian government forcibly landed a Ryanair passenger plane belonging to the Irish airline at Minsk airport, the capital of Belarus, using fighter jets, and arrested opposition activist Raman Pratasevich who was on board. Pratasevich is a journalist who sought asylum in Poland in 2019.
Belarusian authorities claimed that the emergency landing was due to a terror threat against the passenger plane.
However, the United States and European countries condemned the forced landing as being aimed at arresting Pratasevich and imposed sanctions on Belarus.
Additionally, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) decided to investigate the incident at an emergency meeting on the 27th.
On the 29th (local time), a protest condemning the Belarusian government took place in Warsaw, the capital of Poland. [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]
Protests by citizens opposing the Belarusian government's crackdown on the opposition are spreading mainly in neighboring countries.
According to foreign media, on the 29th, a rally supporting Belarusian opposition figures was held in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, with hundreds of participants.
They waved slogans such as "Freedom for Belarus" and "Let's help Belarus," and Pratasevich's parents also attended the rally.
Pratasevich's father, Dmitry, said, "We want to live in a free country where everyone has the right to express their beliefs."
A Ryanair passenger plane of Irish nationality forcibly landed by Belarus authorities [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
On the same day, protests condemning the Belarusian government were held in Lithuania as well.
Meanwhile, Alexander Lukashenko, the President of Belarus, has ruled Belarus for nearly 30 years, maintaining a dictatorship by suppressing the media and opposition.
After the Belarusian presidential election held in August last year showed President Lukashenko winning with over 80% of the vote, allegations of election fraud arose, leading to months of opposition protests.
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