Lukashenko defends plane diversion, dismisses international criticism

Belarusian President Alexander #Lukashenko said Wednesday he had acted “lawfully to protect people” by diverting a Ryanair flight over Belarusian airspace, an act that sparked a global outcry. Athens-to-Vilnius flight carrying a wanted opposition activist was forced to make a landing in Minsk on Sunday over a supposed bomb scare, prompting several EU carriers to stop flights over #Belarus. FRANCE 24’s Philip Turle gives his analysis.