Belarus to pay 'bitter price' over Roman Protasevich arrest


  • English
  • Arabic

French President Emmanuel Macron said he would like the Belarusian opposition to be invited to the G7 summit in Britain next month after the family of jailed journalist Roman Protasevich accused the regime of torture.

European leaders retaliated for an act of "state piracy" by Minsk in forcing the Ryanair plane carrying Protasevich into an unscheduled stop.

The EU banned Belarusian airlines from its airspace and advised carriers not to fly over the country.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on Tuesday said Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko would pay for the "heinous" flight diversion that led to Protasevich's arrest.

"Any dictator toying with such ideas must be made to understand that they will pay a bitter price," Mr Maas said in Berlin, a day after EU leaders agreed to cut air links and impose more economic sanctions.

"Our goal has always been to hit Lukashenko and his power apparatus with these measures, not the civilian population, which is already suffering enough under this regime."

Canada on Tuesday condemned Belarus and said it was considering more sanctions.
"The behaviour of the Belarus regime is outrageous, illegal, and completely unacceptable," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.

"We also condemn this kind of dangerous interference in civil aviation."
The Belarus embassy in Ottawa, Canada, said it would shut down on September 1 after 24 years. It did not give details and no one at the mission was immediately available for comment.

A video emerged of Protasevich, 26, apparently confessing to organising mass protests last year against Mr Lukashenko.

In his short statement, which appears scripted, he said he was being treated correctly and was co-operating with investigators.

His father, Dzmitry Protasevich, said he did not believe his son would have confessed voluntarily and he was worried for his safety.

“It’s likely his nose is broken because the shape of it has changed and there’s a lot of powder on it," Mr Protasevich said. "All of the left side of his face has powder.

“It’s not his words, it’s not his intonation of speech. He is acting very reserved and you can see he is nervous.

"My son cannot admit to creating the mass disorders because he just didn’t do any such thing.”

.
.

Mr Protasevich said he was “really afraid” for his son’s safety in the hands of Belarusian authorities.

“I think what happened was an act of revenge, to enlighten others: 'Look what we can do',” he said. “This is total insanity, what is going on.”

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the video made for "distressing viewing" and Belarus would face consequences.

Meanwhile, the country's exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said the footage proved Protasevich had been tortured.

"He said that he was treated lawfully, but he's clearly beaten and under pressure," Ms Tsikhanouskaya said.

"There is no doubt that he was tortured. He was taken hostage."

Belarus did not immediately comment on the torture allegations but has consistently denied abusing detainees.

Rights groups, however, have documented hundreds of cases of what they call abuse and forced confessions during a crackdown on pro-democracy activists since last year.

France and Ireland described the incident as piracy, while Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called it a "state hijacking".

London did not immediately respond to Mr Macron's proposal for a focus on the Belarus opposition at the June 11 to 13 summit of the top economic powers.

Earlier, EU leaders urged all bloc-based carriers to avoid flying over Belarus, imposed sanctions on officials linked to the flight diversion and urged the International Civil Aviation Organisation to start an investigation.

They called for Minsk authorities to release of Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, who was taken from the plane with him.

The text was endorsed quickly by the leaders who were determined to respond with a “strong reaction” because of the “serious endangering of aviation safety and passengers on board by Belarusian authorities”.

Airlines avoided Belarusian airspace on Tuesday in response to the EU demand.

European Council President Charles Michel accused the regime of playing with people’s lives.

“We won’t tolerate that one can try to play Russian roulette with the lives of innocent civilians,” Mr Michel said.

At least one European airline had diverted a flight around Belarus in response to advice from the UK government.

British Airways Flight 3599, which crossed over Belarus on Saturday and Sunday, bypassed the country on Monday by using Russian airspace, according to Flightradar24.

Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, Air France, LOT and Singapore Airlines also announced they would stop flying over Belarus.

Mr Michel tweeted a photograph of empty airspace over Belarus on Tuesday with the words: "Europe in action."

Ryanair said Belarusian flight controllers told the crew there was a bomb threat against the plane as it was crossing through Belarus airspace on Sunday, and ordered it to land.

A Belarusian MiG-29 fighter jet was sent to escort the plane in a show of force by Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled the country with an iron fist for more than a quarter of a century.

Belarus authorities then arrested the activist, journalist and prominent Lukashenko critic.

Authorities have not said where Protasevich and his partner are being held.

Ryanair Flight FR4978, which began in Athens, Greece, was eventually allowed to continue to Vilnius, Lithuania.

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, who referred to the incident as a “state-sponsored hijacking”, said he believed security agents had been on the flight.

Lithuanian authorities said five passengers did not arrive, suggesting three others besides Protasevich and Ms Sapega disembarked in Minsk.

Russia, which has provided security, diplomatic and financial backing to Mr Lukashenko, accused the West of hypocrisy.

But European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused the Belarusian regime of launching “an attack on democracy”.

“This is an attack on freedom of expression. And this is an attack on European sovereignty. And this outrageous behaviour needs a strong answer,” Ms von der Leyen said.

She said a €3 billion ($3.67bn) EU investment and economic package for Belarus would remain on hold until it “turns democratic”.

US President Joe Biden said he had asked his team to develop appropriate options for holding those responsible to account.

“This outrageous incident and the video Mr Protasevich appears to have made under duress are shameful assaults on both political dissent and the freedom of the press,” Mr Biden said.

“The United States joins countries around the world in calling for his release, as well as for the release of the hundreds of political prisoners who are being unjustly detained by the Lukashenko regime.”

Former US ambassador to Nato, Kurt Volker, said people should not be fooled by the apparent confession video.

“It reminded me of all the hostage tapes we’ve seen terrorists release from the Middle East where they have someone in captivity,” Mr Volker told BBC’s Radio 4.

He said the problem for the EU would be how to stop Belarus from “the trajectory they are on” without further pushing them further into the hands of Russia.

EU leaders have tried to bring Belarus closer to the bloc to encourage democratic reforms and reduce the influence of Russia, but have failed.

On Monday, UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had told the UK Civil Aviation Authority “to request airlines avoid Belarusian airspace in order to keep passengers safe”.

Mr Shapps said he was suspending Belavia Belarusian Airlines’ permit to operate in the UK.

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said: “This was effectively aviation piracy, state sponsored”.

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry was angered at “belligerent” EU statements and insisted that Minsk acted “in full conformity with international rules”.

Sole survivors
  • Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
  • George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
  • Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
  • Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The biog

Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology

Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India

Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur

How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993

Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters

Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo

Moon Music

Artist: Coldplay

Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

Number of tracks: 10

Rating: 3/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO

Serie A

Juventus v Fiorentina, Saturday, 8pm (UAE)

Match is on BeIN Sports

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
2020 Oscars winners: in numbers
  • Parasite – 4
  • 1917– 3
  • Ford v Ferrari – 2
  • Joker – 2
  • Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood – 2
  • American Factory – 1
  • Bombshell – 1
  • Hair Love – 1
  • Jojo Rabbit – 1
  • Judy – 1
  • Little Women – 1
  • Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl) – 1
  • Marriage Story – 1
  • Rocketman – 1
  • The Neighbors' Window – 1
  • Toy Story 4 – 1
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz C200 Coupe


Price, base: Dh201,153
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Power: 204hp @ 5,800rpm
Torque: 300Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.7L / 100km

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Yabi%20by%20Souqalmal%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMay%202022%2C%20launched%20June%202023%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAmbareen%20Musa%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20u%3C%2Fstrong%3Endisclosed%20but%20soon%20to%20be%20announced%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E12%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Eseed%C2%A0%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EShuaa%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULTS

Women:

55kg brown-black belt: Amal Amjahid (BEL) bt Amanda Monteiro (BRA) via choke
62kg brown-black belt: Bianca Basilio (BRA) bt Ffion Davies (GBR) via referee’s decision (0-0, 2-2 adv)
70kg brown-black belt: Ana Carolina Vieira (BRA) bt Jessica Swanson (USA), 9-0
90kg brown-black belt: Angelica Galvao (USA) bt Marta Szarecka (POL) 8-2

Men:

62kg black belt: Joao Miyao (BRA) bt Wan Ki-chae (KOR), 7-2
69kg black belt: Paulo Miyao (BRA) bt Gianni Grippo (USA), 2-2 (1-0 adv)
77kg black belt: Espen Mathiesen (NOR) bt Jake Mackenzie (CAN)
85kg black belt: Isaque Braz (BRA) bt Faisal Al Ketbi (UAE), 2-0
94kg black belt: Felipe Pena (BRA) bt Adam Wardzinski (POL), 4-0
110kg black belt final: Erberth Santos (BRA) bt Lucio Rodrigues (GBR) via rear naked choke

HIV on the rise in the region

A 2019 United Nations special analysis on Aids reveals 37 per cent of new HIV infections in the Mena region are from people injecting drugs.

New HIV infections have also risen by 29 per cent in western Europe and Asia, and by 7 per cent in Latin America, but declined elsewhere.

Egypt has shown the highest increase in recorded cases of HIV since 2010, up by 196 per cent.

Access to HIV testing, treatment and care in the region is well below the global average.  

Few statistics have been published on the number of cases in the UAE, although a UNAIDS report said 1.5 per cent of the prison population has the virus.

Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi

“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”

Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A