NATO restricts Belarusian officials access to headquarters

The decision comes after Belarusian authorities, days ago, forced a passenger plane to land in Minsk and arrested a journalist aboard the aircraft.

“We have decided to limit the entry of Belarusian personnel to NATO headquarters, based on our assessment of security measures”, Stoltenberg told reporters on the eve of a meeting of NATO defence and foreign ministers.

The move affects a Belarus ambassador and four other diplomats.

“They can still enter, but only as visitors, with daily permission and accompanied”, a NATO official was quoted as saying.

Belarus is not a member of NATO, but has a diplomatic mission in the Western military alliance since 1998.

On May 23rd, Belarus has sent a fighter jet to fly a commercial flight of Ryanair Company from Greece to Lithuania, forcing it to land in Minsk.

Belarusan authorities have reasoned on this move, saying they have received information that a bomb has been placed on the plane board.

After landing, Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich, and his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, Russian nationals, have been taken out of the plane and stopped, while no bombs have been found on board.

The Belarusic authorities' move has triggered international outrage and demand for Pratasevich's release.

The European Union has banned flights from Belarus. / REL/