Belarus: NATO talks sanctions after plane diversion

Stoltenberg says Belarus to be punished over flight diversion as shock grows after activist stabbed self in Minsk court.

Pressure mounted on Belarus on Wednesday as NATO’s chief called for sanctions to be implemented after Minsk’s controversial flight diversion, and as shock rose over an activist’s apparent suicide attempt in court. Belarus on May 23 scrambled a military jet to escort a Ryanair plane to Minsk, later arresting wanted activist Roman Protasevich and his partner who were on board. Belarus says it had been notified of a bomb threat, but many in the West saw the diversion as a move to jail Protasevich. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that some members of the transatlantic security alliance were considering taking further action after the European Union and United States rolled out measures against Belarus.