MoT denies Belavia’s involvement in illegal migrant traffic
<p> MINSK, Oct 21 - PrimePress. Belarus’ air carrier Belavia was not involved in organising the transportation of illegal migrants and did not open new destinations to serve migration flows, the Aviation Department of Belarus’ Ministry of Transport (MoT) said in a statement. </p> <p> </p> <p> In view of the EU’s fifth package of sanctions pending, and also following EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell’s statement about Belavia’s involvement in facilitating the illegal transportation of migrants to the EU, MoT’s Aviation Department has released a special statement. </p> <p> </p> <p> “As Mr. Borrel assures, he is in touch with the Iraqi authorities and the passengers arriving in Belarus ‘are not just tourists who want to visit Minsk, they are people who have been convinced that they can get to the EU through Lithuania, Latvia and Poland'. In this regard, it should be noted that Belavia has never flown to Iraq, and Iraqi Airlines began flying to Belarus in January 2017. Iraqi citizens came to our country as part of organized tourist groups, had tourist visas and round-trip tickets. At the same time, the passengers of Iraqi Airlines are not allowed to enter the territory of Belarus in case of violations. For inspection purposes the airline's aircraft remains at the airport for four hours instead of usual one hour,” the department said. </p> <p> </p> <p> The department says Belavia has never been involved in organizing the transportation of illegal migrants. “Despite the fact that the Department of Aviation and Belavia received many requests from the aviation administrations of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan to open regular and charter flights, all of them were rejected by the Belarusian side,” the organization said. </p> <p> </p> <p> On May 23, a Vilnius-bound Ryanair flight that took off from Athens was forced to make an emergency landing in the Belarusian capital of Minsk after a reported bomb threat. A Belarus Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet was scrambled to escort the plane into Minsk. The bomb threat came up empty after the aircraft had landed. The Belarusian authorities specified later that Roman Protasevich, wanted in Belarus as a co-founder of the Nexta Telegram channel, which the Belarusian authorities recognized as extremist, had been among the flight’s passengers. He was detained by Belarusian law enforcement agents. Following the incident, the European Union barred Belarusian air companies from operating flights to EU airports and using the European Union’s airspace, and recommended that European air carriers should avoid Belarusian airspace. In May, Ukraine also suspended air links with Belarus and closed the airspace to Belarusian aircraft. The ICAO launched an investigation into the incident, with a preliminary report due on 25 October 2021 (final report – Nov 2021). End </p> <p> </p>
2021-10-22
Primepress
MoT denies Belavia’s involvement in illegal migrant traffic
MINSK, Oct 21 - PrimePress. Belarus’ air carrier Belavia was not involved in organising the transportation of illegal migrants and did not open new destinations to serve migration flows, the Aviation Department of Belarus’ Ministry of Transport (MoT) said in a statement.
In view of the EU’s fifth package of sanctions pending, and also following EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell’s statement about Belavia’s involvement in facilitating the illegal transportation of migrants to the EU, MoT’s Aviation Department has released a special statement.
“As Mr. Borrel assures, he is in touch with the Iraqi authorities and the passengers arriving in Belarus ‘are not just tourists who want to visit Minsk, they are people who have been convinced that they can get to the EU through Lithuania, Latvia and Poland'. In this regard, it should be noted that Belavia has never flown to Iraq, and Iraqi Airlines began flying to Belarus in January 2017. Iraqi citizens came to our country as part of organized tourist groups, had tourist visas and round-trip tickets. At the same time, the passengers of Iraqi Airlines are not allowed to enter the territory of Belarus in case of violations. For inspection purposes the airline's aircraft remains at the airport for four hours instead of usual one hour,” the department said.
The department says Belavia has never been involved in organizing the transportation of illegal migrants. “Despite the fact that the Department of Aviation and Belavia received many requests from the aviation administrations of Iraq, Iran, Syria and Afghanistan to open regular and charter flights, all of them were rejected by the Belarusian side,” the organization said.
On May 23, a Vilnius-bound Ryanair flight that took off from Athens was forced to make an emergency landing in the Belarusian capital of Minsk after a reported bomb threat. A Belarus Air Force MiG-29 fighter jet was scrambled to escort the plane into Minsk. The bomb threat came up empty after the aircraft had landed. The Belarusian authorities specified later that Roman Protasevich, wanted in Belarus as a co-founder of the Nexta Telegram channel, which the Belarusian authorities recognized as extremist, had been among the flight’s passengers. He was detained by Belarusian law enforcement agents. Following the incident, the European Union barred Belarusian air companies from operating flights to EU airports and using the European Union’s airspace, and recommended that European air carriers should avoid Belarusian airspace. In May, Ukraine also suspended air links with Belarus and closed the airspace to Belarusian aircraft. The ICAO launched an investigation into the incident, with a preliminary report due on 25 October 2021 (final report – Nov 2021). End