AVIATION PIRACY REQUIRES ROBUST RESPONSE

Following the shocking case of aviation piracy carried out by Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus, diverting a Ryanair flight, bound for Vilnius, to Minsk, the Belarus capital, in order to arrest an opposition journalist, Roman Protasevich, who it is now feared faces the death penalty. It is vital that there is a robust international response to this unacceptable behaviour.

As well as the co-ordinated international action currently being discussed, I asked the Foreign Secretary what support he thinks can be offered to protect and assist human rights defenders in Belarus. It is vital that the UK does everything it can to assist the brave people fighting for basic freedoms that we often take for granted.

Watch the exchange below.