European operators are re-routing their flights to avoid Belarus after a Ryanair flight was diverted to arrest a Lukashenko critic. In Brussels, EU leaders have approved a fresh round of sanctions. Will they be enough to prompt the release of Roman Protasevich? Palki Sharma tells you.

Gravitas: Belarus airspace deserted after EU boycott

An International plane was interjected mid-air by a Belarusian fighter jet. The flight was diverted and forced to land in Minsk. Why? Because Europe's last dictator wanted to punish a passenger. Palki Sharma brings you this straight-out-of-Hollywood story.

Gravitas: Belarus diverts Ryanair plane to arrest critic

European Union leaders agreed to impose more sanctions on Belarus, including economic ones. EU leaders have also cut Europe's airlinks with Belarus and agreed on banning Belarusian airlines from the bloc.

EU leaders agree to impose more sanctions on Belarus over Ryanair flight 'hijacking'

European countries, the United States and the United Nations have condemned Belarus after a Ryanair flight from Greece to Lithuania was diverted and made to land in Belarus over a bomb threat to arrest a journalist.

Belarus faces international condemnation over Ryanair flight 'hijacking' to detain journalist

Global leaders have condemned Belarus' diversion of the Ryanair flight and the detention of a journalist. The move has provoked a furious outcry from EU leaders who described it as a 'hijacking' and an act of 'state terrorism'. EU has also said to discuss toughening of its existing sanctions against Belarus at a pre-planned summit today.

EU leaders call for sanctions against Belarus over Ryanair plane 'hijacking', arrest of journalist