'The operation was by no means a spontaneous effort, the diplomat stresses.
It was personally Alexander Lukashenko who took the decision to apprehend the founder of the NEXTA media project on a Telegram chat messenger, Roman Protasevich, suggests Ukraine's Ambassador to Belarus Ihor Kyzym.
The special operation involving the diversion of a commercial passenger plane transiting via the Belarusian airspace could not be a spontaneous effort, Kyzym told Ukraine 24 TV.
This is the first time in his diplomatic career, the ambassador says, that he witnessed a government's move to force-land a passenger jet.
"Obviously, the decision was made at the highest level, no one else says anything else about it. The decision was taken personally by Alexander Lukashenko after the relevant agencies reported to him of the need to take such a step, and so on. It is obvious this was no spontaneous operation – it had been prepared. Whether the decision was taken independently, I'm unaware, but it's a sure fact this was the top leader, and it's been proven. It was Alexander Lukashenko," the ambassador said.'
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Ukraine Ambassador to Belarus: Lukashenko personally ordered to nab Protasevich, May 26, 2021
Context'..bring the criminals .. to justice .. the People’s Tribunal and an amnesty the capture of Lukashenka and members of his state-sponsored terrorist group.'