Belarus, Biden: “Shameful plane hijacking”

A “shameful incident and a direct affront to international norms”. US President Joe Biden condemned in “the strongest possible terms” the Belarusian authorities hijacking a commercial flight Athens-Vilnius two days ago, which they forced to land in Minsk to arrest the blogger and activist of the opposition Roman Pratasevich. “I welcome the news that the European Union has called for targeted economic sanctions and other measures – said Biden in a statement – and I asked my team to work out appropriate options” with respect to those responsible for this incident, “in close coordination with the EU, other partners and allies, and international organizations “. “The shameful incident and the video in which Pratasevich seems to have made under coercion are indecent attacks on political dissent and freedom of the press – continues Biden – The United States joins other countries in the world that are demanding his release, such as that of hundreds of political prisoners who were unjustly detained by the Lukashenko regime “. The president then adds his voice to the many appeals “for an international investigation that fully ascertains the facts”. Finally, Biden reiterates his applause “the courage and determination of Belarusians fighting for fundamental rights, including Pratasevich and opposition leaders such as Svetlana Tikhanovskaya and her husband Syarhey Tikhanovsky. The United States stands by the Belarusian people in their own right. fight “. The United States calls for” an immediate, transparent, credible international investigation “into the landing in Minsk of the plane bound for Lithuania to allow the arrest of a dissident Belarusian journalist. “It was a shocking action, hijacking a flight between two EU member states for the apparent purpose of arresting a journalist,” said Joe Biden spokeswoman Jen Psaki. “This constitutes a brazen affront to international freedom, peace and security by the regime”, he continued, calling for an investigation into the incident. “We condemn the ongoing attack by the Lukashenko regime and the arbitrary detention of journalists simply for doing their job,” the spokeswoman added.