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| - Here are the main developments since Belarus forced down a Ryanair flight with a fighter jet on Sunday to arrest opposition activist Roman Protasevich. Belarusian opposition Telegram channel Nexta says on Sunday that its former editor, exiled opposition journalist Roman Protasevich, has been detained after his flight made an emergency landing in Minsk under orders from President Alexander Lukashenko. Protasevich was aboard a Ryanair flight from Athens to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius which made an emergency landing following a bomb scare, the Russian news agency TASS says, citing Minsk airport. Nexta says Protasevich, 26, was detained after the plane was searched. Lukashenko's press service says the president gave the order to turn the flight around. He also ordered a Mig-29 fighter jet to accompany the aircraft. Last year Protasevich and Nexta founder Stepan Putilo, 22, were added to Belarus's list of "individuals involved in terrorist activity". Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya condemns the arrest, saying Protasevich could face the death penalty. France and Ireland denounce an "unacceptable diversion", while Poland speaks of "state terrorism". Top European Union officials warn Belarus it will be held responsible for the fate of all passengers. The United States demands the immediate release of the opponent. In the early evening the European Commission says the Ryanair Boeing 737 has been allowed to continue towards Lithuania without mention of Protasevich. Belarus on Monday says it reacted legally to a bomb threat claiming to be from Palestinian group Hamas, rejecting "unfounded accusations". German Chancellor Angela Merkel says the explanation is "completely implausible". Belarus ally Russia says it is "shocked that the West calls the incident 'shocking'." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres calls for an independent investigation into the forced landing, a call echoed by the EU and NATO. Late on Monday night blogger Protasevich is shown on Belarusian state television "confessing" to charges of organising mass unrest, in a 30-second video. He also says he is in good health. The footage shows Protasevich -- who could face up to 15 years in jail -- with dark marks on his forehead. His father fears his nose has been broken. EU leaders agree on Monday evening to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc and urge airlines to avoid Belarus airspace. Many flights to the increasingly isolated nation are cut. The leaders of the 27-nation EU warn of further sanctions against those responsible. On Tuesday Belarus invites international aviation groups to look into the plane diversion. The UN calls for the immediate release of Protasevich and his girlfriend and seek assurances that he is not being ill-treated or tortured. With the UN Security Council about to hold a closed-door meeting on Belarus on Wednesday, Lukashenko says attacks on his regime have crossed "red lines". jah/jmy/fg/acl/kjl
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