Canada on Tuesday slammed Belarus for forcibly downing a jetliner and arresting a disgruntled journalist, saying it’s investigating whether or not the present sanctions ought to be tightened.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau instructed reporters, “The behavior of the Belarus regime is abusive, illegal and completely unacceptable … We also condemn such dangerous interference in civil aviation.”
Separately, the Belarus Embassy in Ottawa stated it will shut on 1 September after 24 years of operations.
“This decision was made based on an analysis of the practical implications (ongoing) of current bilateral contacts,” Acting Ambassador Evgeny Rasak stated by e mail.
Canada suggested Canadian airways and plane to “avoid operations at any altitude within Belarusian airspace due to serious safety and security concerns for civil aviation operations,” a joint by Foreign Minister Mark Garneau and Transport Minister Omar Alghabra According to the assertion.
Relations between the 2 nations are restricted. According to the Canadian Foreign Ministry, Canada’s bilateral commerce with Belarus amounted to solely C $ 38.5 million ($ 31.9 million) in 2020.
Airlines resumed flights to keep away from Belarus airspace on Tuesday and Belarusian planes confronted a doable ban from Europe, as worldwide outrage was sparked by the arrest of 26-year-old Roman Protasevich. A Belarus struggle aircraft intercepted a Ryanair passenger jet carrying Protasevich on Sunday and compelled it to land.
Garneau and Alghabra’s assertion condemned Protasevich’s arrest and referred to as it “a blatant attack on the freedom of media with a serious impact on the rights to freedom of expression”.
“Canada has current sanctions against Belarus and will investigate further options,” Trudeau stated.
Ottawa banned 55 officers in Belarus after a disputed presidential election within the former Soviet republic in August.
Canada helps “action through all available international institutions”, together with NATO and the International Civil Aviation Organization, Trudeau stated.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
