Communiqué of European Council President Charles Michel on the incident involving a forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk, Belarus, on 23 May

I condemn in the strongest possible terms the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in Minsk, Belarus, on 23 May 2021 and the reported detention by Belarusian authorities of journalist Raman Pratasevich.

I call on Belarus authorities to immediately release the detained passenger and to fully guarantee his rights.

EU leaders will discuss this unprecedented incident tomorrow during the European Council.

The incident  will not remain without consequences.