The scandal with Ukraine's threat to shoot down a Belarusian plane is gaining momentum
The scandal surrounding yesterday's incident, in which, at Ukraine's request, a Belarusian passenger plane bound for Minsk was returned to Kyiv under threat of scrambling fighter jets, is gaining momentum .
As it turned out, the reason for the return of the Belavia plane was the journalist Armen Martirosyan, who was known for his pro-Russian position, who was on board. He used to live and work in Kyiv, but after the victory of Euromaidan he moved to Moscow.
Martirosyan was searched by SBU officers after the Belarusian airliner's return, although his belongings had previously been inspected during pre-flight security. After finding nothing illegal, Martirosyan was released. He then boarded another flight to Minsk, and from there, to Russia. The journalist stated that he would comment in more detail after consulting with his lawyers.
SBU press secretary Elena Gitlyanskaya explained the incident as follows:
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“The SBU received information about a foreign citizen and a possible threat to the national security of the state.
At the time of receiving the information, the foreigner was already on board Belavia Airlines, which was preparing to fly to Minsk. We immediately informed the State Enterprise “Ukraerorukh” about this.
By the time the dispatcher contacted the pilot, the plane had already been in the air for several minutes. After verification activities, we were convinced that the threat to national security had been localized. The SBU has acted and will act within its competence to ensure the security of the country and its citizens.
"On a personal note, can we really take seriously the information that fighter jets could have been scrambled against a civilian airliner?" Gitlyanskaya wrote on Facebook.
Official Minsk seems to have a different opinion.
Today, the Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in the Republic of Belarus, Valery Dzhigun, was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus.
“During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the head of the Ukrainian diplomatic mission was handed a note in which the Belarusian side protested in connection with the actions of the competent authorities of Ukraine to forcibly return the Belarusian aircraft of the Belavia airline, which made a regular flight B21 2016 on October 2, 840 on the route “ Kyiv-Minsk".
As emphasized in the note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Belarusian side expects an official apology and demands compensation for all financial costs and expenses caused by the actions of the Ukrainian side.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also instructed the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to Ukraine Igor Sokol to present a similar note of protest to the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
The scandal surrounding Ukraine's threat to shoot down a Belarusian plane is gaining momentum.