Roman Protasevich

[Danllan]

We all have our differences regarding such things as religion, Brexit and so forth, but... if ever anyone finds himself doubting the real value of our democracies and the ability he has to hold and express whatever opinion he chooses, think about the appalling situation involving this poor fellow:

Belarus diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist, says opposition - BBC News

I hope the Democracies react to this collectively, quickly and effectively - to do otherwise will be an abject failure for them all, the UK, US, EU, Oz, Japan, all...

 

[Ashtree]

We all have our differences regarding such things as religion, Brexit and so forth, but... if ever anyone finds himself doubting the real value of our democracies and the ability he has to hold and express whatever opinion he chooses, think about the appalling situation involving this poor fellow:

Belarus diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist, says opposition - BBC News

I hope the Democracies react to this collectively, quickly and effectively - to do otherwise will be an abject failure for them all, the UK, US, EU, Oz, Japan, all...

So you now accept the EU is a democracy. Took quite a time for the penny to drop, but better late than never.

 

[Hindsight]

We all have our differences regarding such things as religion, Brexit and so forth, but... if ever anyone finds himself doubting the real value of our democracies and the ability he has to hold and express whatever opinion he chooses, think about the appalling situation involving this poor fellow:

Belarus diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist, says opposition - BBC News

I hope the Democracies react to this collectively, quickly and effectively - to do otherwise will be an abject failure for them all, the UK, US, EU, Oz, Japan, all...

Thank you for posting. I cannot like your post enough. We truly do not appreciate the freedoms taken for granted in the UK. Our little grumbles pale into total insignificance. Disgraceful behaviour from the Belarus Government. Were will these dictators stop. The rule of law is totally disrespected. Regards.

 

[Danllan]

So you now accept the EU is a democracy. Took quite a time for the penny to drop, but better late than never.

You really are a tw at. No, the EU is not a democracy, it can't be because it is not a sovereign state and does not have representative elections to a legislature. Instead, its 'laws' come solely as Directives, Regulations and Judgements from entirely unelected bodies.

But, its member-states do claim to be democracies, even in the face of all evidence to the contrary. And, whether democracies or not, to their credit most of them do support and uphold the right to freedom of thought and expression.

I am entirely unsurprised that you've tried to exploit this poor fellow's case to vent your EUrophilia; but, nonetheless, I do rejoice in the fact that even such a revolting little turd as yourself is free to do so.

 

[Hindsight]

So you now accept the EU is a democracy. Took quite a time for the penny to drop, but better late than never.

What sort of comment is that? You on the moonshine today!!

 

[Hindsight]

You really are a tw at. No, the EU is not a democracy, it can't be because it is not a sovereign state and does not have representative elections to a legislature. Instead, its 'laws' come solely as Directives, Regulations and Judgements from entirely unelected bodies.

But, its member-states do claim to be democracies, even in the face of all evidence to the contrary. And, whether democracies or not, to their credit most of them do support and uphold the right to freedom of thought and expression.

I am entirely unsurprised that you've tried to exploit this poor fellows case to vent your EUrophilia; but, nonetheless, I do rejoice in the fact that even such a revolting little turd as yourself is free to do so.

Well said - beat me to it. Presume the Potcheen has got to his better senses this evening.

 

[Martin Holden]

We all have our differences regarding such things as religion, Brexit and so forth, but... if ever anyone finds himself doubting the real value of our democracies and the ability he has to hold and express whatever opinion he chooses, think about the appalling situation involving this poor fellow:

Belarus diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist, says opposition - BBC News

I hope the Democracies react to this collectively, quickly and effectively - to do otherwise will be an abject failure for them all, the UK, US, EU, Oz, Japan, all...

Ignoring Ash’s response which is almost predictable this move by Belarus breaches international flying law I think. The claim that there was a bomb on board, will I think will be proven nonsense so to force a passenger flight to be diverted and escorted by military jets in order to remove and arrest a passenger is unprecedented. I wonder what Big Don would make of all this? As others more eminent folk have commented Russia like China are credible threats to us in the west.

 

[yellow belly]

Ignoring Ash’s response which is almost predictable this move by Belarus breaches international flying law I think. The claim that there was a bomb on board, will I think will be proven nonsense so to force a passenger flight to be diverted and escorted by military jets in order to remove and arrest a passenger is unprecedented. I wonder what Big Don would make of all this? As others more eminent folk have commented Russia like China are credible threats to us in the west.

out and out piracy

they do both need the west
china needs food (80 million tonnes soya beans ) and a market for their goods

russia need to sell it energy and also it surplas cereal grain

 

[le bon paysan]

Lukashenka’s unrestrained efforts to imprison and silence political foes hurts the country’s people, its international reputation, as well as its economy. Add commercial aviation safety to the long list of risks of doing business with Belarus
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

@RFERL


Roman Pratasevich was taken away by police shortly after the Ryanair flight, which was on a scheduled route from Athens to Vilnius, landed in the Belarusian capital

EU, NATO Demand Belarus Explain 'Forcible' Diversion Of Passenger Plane, Detention Of Journalist

www.rferl.org

 

[Danllan]

Ignoring Ash’s response which is almost predictable this move by Belarus breaches international flying law I think. The claim that there was a bomb on board, will I think will be proven nonsense so to force a passenger flight to be diverted and escorted by military jets in order to remove and arrest a passenger is unprecedented. I wonder what Big Don would make of all this? As others more eminent folk have commented Russia like China are credible threats to us in the west.

Yep, not my field but I've now done a bit of reading up on it and the treaties, conventions etc. broken are many. But there is no 'international law', no body of rules that countries have to adhere to and can be punished for ignoring, there are just agreements which sovereign states do or don't choose to be part of. So it really boils down to whether or not those who advocate freedom have the courage of their convictions, we'll see...

 

[Martin Holden]

Yep, not my field but I've now done a bit of reading up on it and the treaties, conventions etc. broken are many. But there is no 'international law', no body of rules that countries have to adhere to and can be punished for ignoring, there are just agreements which sovereign states do or don't choose to be part of. So it really boils down to whether or not those who advocate freedom have the courage of their convictions, we'll see...

Interesting. Still at least they didn’t shoot the plane down as others have done

 

[yellow belly]

Interesting. Still at least they didn’t shoot the plane down as others have done

Would they have done if the plane had not diverted

 

[Muck Spreader]

Would they have done if the plane had not diverted

Maybe not. It has been reported that four Russians also did not re-join the flight to Vilnius along with Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend. Probably a fair guess as to who they were working for!

 

[Danllan]

Interesting. Still at least they didn’t shoot the plane down as others have done

Would they have done if the plane had not diverted

Maybe not. It has been reported that four Russians also did not re-join the flight to Vilnius along with Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend. Probably a fair guess as to who they were working for!

The plane being shot down is a horrifying and very frightening scenario; I think it unlikely the Belarussian dictator would have been brave / stupid enough to do that. As for the Russians, if true it is not too surprising and par for the course; Putin wants to keep Belarus firmly within his 'sphere of influence' - of course the Belarussian people are irrelevant to this, but I think he'll be fighting a losing battle in this case, since the tide in Belarus is very firmly set toward democracy.

 

[nivilla1982]

125 person boarded the plane in Athens, while only 121 got off in Vilnius, So 1 prisoner? and 3 agents/state heavies etc?
Is Belarus not in some form of one sided union with Russia?

 

[manhill]

I won't hear a bad word spoken about Alexander Lukashenko!
Why? Because he's a farmer (ex) therefore he can't be all bad.
(And he makes lots of tractors)

 

[le bon paysan]

I won't hear a bad word spoken about Alexander Lukashenko!
Why? Because he's a farmer (ex) therefore he can't be all bad.
(And he makes lots of tractors)

Yeah ,ok. Just be thankful you don't live in his regime.
https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/1584646.html
Vladimir Putin has huge farms in his investment portfolio, but still his problem is feeding Russia.

Pasta and Sugar, Not Navalny, Are Putin’s Main Worries – PONARS Eurasia

www.ponarseurasia.org

 

[Exfarmer]

I won't hear a bad word spoken about Alexander Lukashenko!
Why? Because he's a farmer (ex) therefore he can't be all bad.
(And he makes lots of tractors)

It is very difficult to write a bad word about Lukashenko
However in England we can tell the truth about this little kleptocratic dictator
Lying little thief is wrong as he is a fat git too