Disinfo: Security Service of Ukraine could have set up the detainment of Pratasevich to harm Belarus

Summary

The situation with the detention in Minsk of the co-founder of the Nexta telegram channel recognized in Belarus as extremist Roman Pratasevich could have been set up by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). History knows many precedents for such an unfriendly attitude of Kyiv towards Minsk.

[...] This situation was beneficial to the SBU in order to expose Belarus in an unattractive light.

The Security Service of Ukraine has experience of forcibly turning the Belarusian airplane and organising a provocation with the "Wagnerites" with a similar scenario, which at one time pretty much harmed Belarus. The version that the Ukrainian "non-brothers" might be involved in this too looks at least logical.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the detainment of Belarusian journalist Roman Pratasevich in Minsk airport when flying from Athens to Vilnius. An example of smoke-screening of the actual events in order to confuse the audience.

The Security Service of Ukraine was not responsible for the detainment of Pratasevich. On Sunday, May 23, 2021, the Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to turn back before crossing the Lithuanian border and land in the Belarusian capital by Belarusian authorities. The plane was forced to land in the Belarusian capital by a Belarusian military aircraft.

The pretext for landing in Minsk was a false report about the bomb on board. At the moment when the plane changed course, it was closer to Vilnius airport than to Minsk.

Roman Protasevich was detained during a repeated security check of passengers. Belarusian authorities are persecuting him due to activities in reporting on the 2020 presidential election on his NEXTA channel on Telegram used by the country's opposition. The Belarusian security service, KGB, has listed him as a terrorist (Read more about Pratasevich here). Together with Roman Pratasevich was detained his girlfriend, a citizen of the Russian Federation Sofia Sapega.

The EU condemned Belarusian action against a civil airplane and the detention of Pratasevich. In a declaration on behalf of the EU on the forced diversion of Ryanair flight FR4978 to Minsk on 23 May 2021, the High Representative called for the immediate release of Mr. Pratasevich. This was followed by a European Council statement, in which the EU leaders called for targeted individual and economic sanctions as well as to ban overflight of EU airspace by Belarusian airlines and prevent access to EU airports of flights operated by these.

The incident is investigated as an act of terrorism by Lithuanian authorities.

See similar cases: Minsk forced Ryanair flight to land in full accordance with international law; Pratasevich could tell how the West supported and coordinated protests in Belarus; Belarus defended Europe against a terrorist attack, allowing the Ryanair plane to land in Minsk; Forcing down aircraft is common practice among special forces and Belarus acted strict in accordance with international law in the Ryanair incident.

publication/media

  • Reported in: Issue 245
  • DATE OF PUBLICATION: 25/05/2021
  • Article language(s) Russian
  • Countries and/or Regions discussed in the disinformation: Belarus, Ukraine
  • Keywords: Alexander Lukashenko, Ryanair Flight 4978, Terrorism, Repression
see more

Disinfo: After a coup in 2000, the US, UK and the EU took control of Serbia's security, defence services

After the coup d'ètat in Serbia in 2000 the US, the UK and their EU slaves have taken control over Serbia's security services and defence sector, colonising the country. Serbia has become a Western colony because of traitors in the state apparatus and NGOs who have been brainwashed and paid by the West.

Disproof

Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the EU and US presence in Europe.

There was no coup d'ètat in Serbia in 2000. On October 5, 2000, ten days after the presidential elections won by Vojislav Kostunica, the regime of President Slobodan Milošević, who had just passed a law specifically designed to guarantee him a further term in office, fell. Despite being defeated by the multi-party democratic coalition, the Democratic Opposition of Serbia (DOS) largely supported by public opinion, the government-controlled Federal Electoral Committee claimed that no candidate won over 50% of the votes and that a second round between Koštunica and Milošević would take place.

Disinfo: The West employs double standards in its treatment of the Ryanair flight incident in Belarus

It is appalling that the West describes the incident in the airspace of Belarus as shocking. The life of civilised democracies, which in reality takes place according to the principle of quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi (what is permissible for Jupiter may not be permissible for a bull), has not been unique for a long time because these democracies have lost the true leadership qualities they once possessed, and caused the blood and suffering of millions around the world.

Either you express your shock at everything: from forcing the plane of the President of Bolivia to make an emergency landing in Austria at the request of the United States, and forcing a Belarusian plane to land in Ukraine 11 minutes after taking off with a Ukrainian opposition activist, or you do not.

Disproof

A recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about the interception of the Ryanair flight FR4987 claiming that it is standard practice. None of the examples cited in the claim involved tailing by fighter jets, the communication of false information or crackdowns on the political opposition.

On 23 May 2021, a Belarusian MiG-29 fighter jet belonging to the Belarusian Airforce armed with air-to-air missiles intercepted Ryanair flight FR4987 en route from Athens to Vilnius. The Minsk Air Control reported a bomb on board the aircraft and demanded the flight redirected to Minsk. As the plane landed, a dissident journalist wanted by the Belarusian authorities for “extremism” was detained.

Disinfo: Minsk forced Ryanair flight to land in full accordance with international law

In forcing the Ryanair Athens-Vilnius flight to land in Minsk, the Belarusian flight authorities followed all international norms.

Disproof

Roman Pratasevich was detained in Minsk airport when flying from Athens to Vilnius.

On Sunday, May 23, 2021, the Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was forced to turn back before crossing the Lithuanian border and land in the Belarusian capital. The pretext for landing in Minsk was a false report about the bomb on board. At the moment when the plane changed course, it was closer to Vilnius airport than to Minsk. The plane was forced to land in the Belarusian capital by a Belarusian military aircraft.