“I told recently in one of my conversations with a European colleague that the version of Mr. Lukashenka, which he told me about, is that they themselves received information that there was an explosive device on board.
They informed the pilot, did not force him to land, and the pilot decided to land in Minsk.
That's all, ”Putin’s words are quoted on the Kremlin’s website.
He noted that he sees no reason why he should not believe the words of Lukashenka.
“Why shouldn't I believe him?
You ask the pilot.
The simplest thing is to ask the commander of the ship: were you forced to land or not?
Ask him.
Did you ask him?
Something I have never heard an interview with this ship commander, who boarded in Minsk.
Why not ask him: were you forced to sit down?
Why don't you ask him?
This is even strange.
Everyone blames Lukashenka, but they don't ask the pilot, ”the Russian leader emphasized.
On May 25, the leaders of the EU countries decided to ban Belarusian airlines from using the airspace of European countries after the incident with the Ryanair plane, which on May 23 urgently landed at the Minsk airport.
On June 4, the European Union officially banned all Belarusian air carriers from using their airspace.
The Ryanair plane, flying from Athens to Vilnius, on May 23 urgently landed in Minsk due to a report of a bomb on board.
Information about mining was not confirmed.
Roman Protasevich, the founder of the NEXTA Telegram channel recognized as extremist in Belarus, was flying in the liner; he was detained after landing.