MINSK, 26 May (BelTA) – A Minsk-Barcelona flight of the Belarusian air carrier Belavia had to make a U-turn in flight on 26 May. Anatoly Glaz, Head of the Information and Digital Diplomacy Office, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made a few comments in response to the event, BelTA has learned.
The official said: “A totally outrageous fact and an immoral deed. Honestly speaking, it is virtually aerial piracy. One can certainly shift the blame and cynically distort facts to one's heart content but in truth the aircraft with passengers took off and despite the absence of any restrictions in Spain aviation agencies primarily of France closed the air space while the aircraft was flying. As a result, the aircraft had to fly in circles. Certainly, no one had given warnings in advance.”
Anatoly Glaz said: “I am simply stunned by the cold disregard for interests of the passengers and their safety. What is their guilt? If an emergency happens, the people who made this decision will be made responsible.”
The official also noted that the passengers were denied an opportunity to get to their destinations. Most of the passengers on board were citizens of European Union countries. “As far as we can see, France and other countries are not particularly concerned about these ‘insignificant' problems of their citizens and moreover problems of Belarusian citizens. It is sad that such real actions hide behind the European Union's mantras about the priority of mobility in Europe,” the diplomat noted.
Anatoly Glaz reminded that about 1,000 kids used to visit Spain every summer on board of Belavia aircraft as part of rehabilitation programs. “Are we to believe the French government is ready to sacrifice them in favor of their ‘high' ideals and political ambitions, too?” he wondered.
As far as international law is concerned, Anatoly Glaz believes it was a direct violation. Article 87 of the Chicago Convention specifies that restrictions against air carriers may be authorized only by the ICAO Council. “As far as we know, the council has not made such decisions,” he noted.
Anatoly Glaz drew attention to the moral aspect of the incident: “Everyone knows that the air carrier, the commercial entity has not violated anything and has nothing to do with the political hysterics surrounding the Ryanair flight. But it is the air carrier that European Union countries have publicly thanked for evacuating their citizens during an acute period of the pandemic. This is how European gratitude is manifested in deed for people on different sides of the border.”
Anatoly Glaz also expressed support and wished good luck to passengers of the flight, who have to endure these inconveniences due to actions of individual European Union countries. “It is obvious for everyone that the Belarusian air carrier has done its best to honor its commitments properly as always. However, it definitely cannot be blamed for what happened,” he concluded.
