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G7 countries call for 'immediate and unconditional' release of Belarus journalist

G7 countries call for 'immediate and unconditional' release of Belarus journalist

FILE PHOTO: Belarusian blogger Roman Protasevich, detained when a Ryanair plane was forced to land in Minsk, is seen in a pre-trial detention facility, as he says, in Minsk, Belarus May 24, 2021 in this still image taken from video. Telegram@Zheltyeslivy/Reuters TV/via REUTERS T

LONDON: Foreign ministers of the G7 wealthy nations on Thursday (May 27) called for the "immediate and unconditional release" of Roman Protasevich, a Belarusian journalist arrested by the regime in Minsk after the plane he was on was diverted.

"We demand the immediate and unconditional release (of Protasevich), as well as all other journalists and political prisoners held in Belarus," the ministers said in a joint statement published by the British government.

The ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States, along with the European Union "condemn in the strongest terms the unprecedented action by the Belarusian authorities", the statement added.

READ: Belarus opposition calls for more pressure after plane arrest

International disapproval of Belarus and its president, Alexander Lukashenko, has increased since the regime diverted a Ryanair jet on Sunday to arrest Protasevich, an opposition journalist, and his companion, Sofia Sopega, who were both on board.

The G7 ministers accused Lukashenko of jeopardising the safety of the passengers and crew on the flight.

"We call on the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to urgently address this challenge to its rules and standards," said the statement.

"This action also represents a serious attack on media freedom," it added.

READ: EU cuts air links with Belarus over forced plane landing

"We will enhance our efforts, including through further sanctions as appropriate, to promote accountability for the actions of the Belarusian authorities."

UK's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab wrote on Twitter that "we will use all the tools at our disposal to hold the Lukashenko regime to account". UK currently holds the G7 presidency.

Source: AFP/mi

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