Editing Alexander Lukashenko (section)

====Allegations of state-sponsored hijacking====
On 23 May 2021, Lukashenko personally ordered [[Ryanair Flight 4978]] en route from [[Athens]] to [[Vilnius]], carrying the opposition journalist [[Roman Protasevich]], to land in [[Belarus]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 May 2021|title=Plane carrying Belarusian opposition figure ordered to divert to Minsk by President Alexander Lukashenko|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-24/plane-carrying-opposition-figure-diverted-to-belarus/100159524|url-status=live|access-date=23 July 2021|website=Abc.net.au|language=en-AU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523173025/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-24/plane-carrying-opposition-figure-diverted-to-belarus/100159524 |archive-date=23 May 2021 }}</ref> The flight was forced to land at [[Minsk International Airport]] shortly before it reached the Lithuanian border after Belarusian air traffic control conveyed a report of explosives on board the plane. The flight was escorted by a [[Belarusian Air Force]] [[MiG-29]] fighter jet. Belarusian authorities said no explosives were found and arrested Protasevich, who was placed in a list of "individuals involved in terrorist activity" the previous year for his role in the anti-government protests and incitement to [[Public disorder]]. The move was condemned by opposition figures, with Tsikhanouskaya saying that Protasevich "faces the death penalty" in Belarus.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-forces-vilnius-bound-ryanair-plane-land-detain-blogger-2021-05-23/|title=Belarus forces Ryanair plane bound for Vilnius to land, infuriating Lithuania|website=Reuters.com|date=23 May 2021|access-date=23 May 2021|archive-date=24 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524000905/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-forces-vilnius-bound-ryanair-plane-land-detain-blogger-2021-05-23/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57219860|title=Belarus 'diverts Ryanair flight to arrest journalist', says opposition|website=BBC News|date=23 May 2021|access-date=23 May 2021|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523174629/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-57219860|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-diverts-plane-to-arrest-journalist-says-opposition/a-57635240|title=Belarus diverts plane to arrest journalist, says opposition|website=Dw.com|date=23 May 2021|access-date=23 May 2021|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523172128/https://www.dw.com/en/belarus-diverts-plane-to-arrest-journalist-says-opposition/a-57635240|url-status=live}}</ref>