We, the chairs of our respective national parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committees, condemn
unequivocally the threat of violence used against a civilian aircraft in the skies over Belarus. Using
fighter aircraft to intercept a civilian Ryanair flight is an act of piracy on a route between two NATO and
EU countries. This reckless act put the passengers and crew in grave danger. It is a reminder of the
illegitimacy of the administration claiming authority in Minsk.
We call for an immediate inquiry to be held by the International Civil Aviation Organisation into this
clear violation of free transit between states and the threats to the aircraft.
Until ICAO has reported, we call for Belarus to be suspended from the organisation and a ban on all
overflight of Belarus including flights to and from the country. It is clear that the current administration
in Minsk has no respect for the safety of our citizens and cannot be trusted to defend their rights. This
act of state terror and kidnapping is a threat to all those who travel in Europe and beyond. It cannot be
allowed to stand.
We call on NATO and European Union States to put sanctions on the Lukashenka regime and
suspend their ability to use Interpol and other international organisations to further attack democracy
in Europe. We call for free elections to be held under the supervision of the Organisation for Security
and Cooperation in Europe. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of Raman
Pratasevich and all other political prisoners.
Tyranny has no place in Belarus or in Europe. It threatens not only its own citizens but millions of
others around the world.
Sen Pavel Fischer
Chair, Czech Republic
Norbert Röttgen MdB
Chair, Germany
Charlie Flanagan TD
Chair, Ireland
Tom Tugendhat MP
Chair, United Kingdom
Rihards Kols
Chair, Latvia
�½ygimantas Pavilionis
Chair, Lithuania
Sen Bogdan Klich
Chair, Poland
Sen Bob Menendez
Chair, United States