U.S. Imposes Ban on Air Travel to Belarus

The U.S. Department of Transportation has banned the sale of air tickets to Belarus due to the incident with Ryanair, according to the RIA Novosti news agency.

Sales of passenger air tickets to Belarus as a final destination or even as a transfer point are now illegal. The only exception might be made if it is required by the U.S. national security interests.

On May 23, Roman Protasevitch, a founder of the Nexta Telegram channel flew on board a Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius. While the plane was flying in Belarus airspace, the crew was told to land because of an allegedly reported bomb on the plane. Right after landing, Roman Protasevitch was arrested.

He is accused of organizing social unrest, disorderly behavior and the excitement of hate to law enforcement during the last summer protests against Alexander Lukashenko’s declared win in the presidential elections. Protasevitch may be sentenced to 15 years in jail if a Belarus court recognizes that he is guilty.

Belarussian KGB searched for Protasevitch from November 19, 2020, when he had been included in the list of individuals allegedly involved in terrorist activities.