MINSK, 15 Sep. Belarus is working with EU airlines to resume their flights to Minsk, but the sanctions pose a problem for the payment of air navigation fees, the aviation department of the republic’s Ministry of Transport told RIA Novosti on Wednesday. Earlier, some media reported that European airlines pretended that the conflict between the EU and Belarus settled, and without unnecessary publicity in the press, flights to Minsk are already starting in September. In particular, it was noted that Lufthansa (Germany), LOT (Poland) and AirBaltic (Latvia) again opened the sale of tickets for flights from their countries to Minsk, it became known from the websites of these air carriers.
Belavia denied reports on the resumption of flights to the European Union «Yes, indeed, the aviation department is working together with European partners to facilitate flights. At the same time, the imposition of sanctions by the European Union creates a problem for the payment of air navigation fees,» said a representative of the department in response to Request for comment on the information on the possible resumption of flights from the EU countries to Belarus. The Ryanair plane that flew from Athens to Vilnius on May 23 urgently landed at the Minsk airport due to a message about mining, which was not subsequently confirmed. This plane was flown by Roman Protasevich, the founder of the Nexta Telegram channel, recognized as extremist in Belarus. While checking documents at the Minsk airport, Protasevich was detained. A criminal case was opened against him under several articles, including the article «organizing mass riots.» European countries said that Minsk forced the plane to land at its airport under an invented pretext. Some airlines decided to fly bypassing the airspace of Belarus. The EU Council also banned the use of the airspace and airports of the European Union by Belarusian air carriers.
The European Parliament called on to completely stop air traffic with Belarus
