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What did the West do after the Ryanair diversion?
Summary
A look back at the first international responses to Belarus's handling of Ryanair Flight 4978, as reported on 23 and 24 May 2021.
What did Belarus's neighbours and allies do once Ryanair Flight 4978 was diverted? By 25 May 2021, two responses had been reported, one from NATO and one from the European Union.
On 23 May 2021, NATO demanded an international investigation into Belarus's diversion of the Ryanair flight. The call put the focus on establishing what had happened through an inquiry beyond Minsk's control.
The next day, 24 May 2021, the European Union moved from demands to measures. It banned all Belarusian airlines from using its airports and airspace, a step aimed at the country's carriers as a whole. It also placed sanctions on officials believed to be involved in the operation, which the EU described as a hijacking.
Two tracks
Taken together, the reports show two parallel tracks. NATO pressed for scrutiny and accountability through an investigation. The EU combined restrictions on air access with targeted sanctions on individuals.
The measures hit both the aviation sector and named officials, rather than the state in general. That choice reflected the EU's stated focus on those believed to have taken part in the operation.
