蜜芽传媒

On Sunday 23 May, Belarus diverted a plane which was flying over its territory in order to arrest an opposition journalist. Police took Roman Protasevich away when passengers disembarked.

Some European leaders have called this "state sponsored terrorism". Today, the deputy of the state Duma (the Russian parliament) Leonid Kalashnikov is quoted as saying Belarus has the right to choose 鈥渕ethods that it considers feasible and necessary鈥� to combat threats to its national security. After the disputed Presidential election in Belarus last year, Russia was a staunch supporter of President Lukashenko.

Fyodor Lukyanov, editor-in-chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal, explains what lies behind Russia's reaction to the event and the relationship between Russia and Belarus.

Photo: Roman Protasevich at a court hearing in Minsk, Belarus, April 2017 Credit: Reuters