Arab News Japan

TOKYO: The G7 Foreign Ministers condemned “in the strongest terms” the unprecedented action by the Belarusian authorities in arresting independent journalist, Raman Pratasevich and his companion, Sofia Sopega.

The arrest came after the flight they were traveling on was forced to land in Minsk on 23 May.

“This action jeopardized the safety of the passengers and crew of the flight. It was also a serious attack on the rules governing civil aviation. All our countries, and our citizens, depend on every state acting responsibly in fulfilling their duties under the Chicago Convention so that civil aircraft can operate safely and securely,” said a statement by the foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union.

The ministers called on the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to urgently address this action “that represents a serious attack on media freedom.” They also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of Raman Pratasevich, as well as all other journalists and political prisoners held in Belarus.

The statement did not rule out imposing further sanctions on the Belarusian authorities.