Europe cannot stand idly by while a dictator engages in acts of state-sponsored air piracy and terrorism. The deviation of a passenger plane by the Belarusian dictator Lukashenko is an attack on Belarusian and European citizens alike. In the light of such outrageous events, we would like the​ Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of​ the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (VP/HR) ​to tell us in clear, direct and unequivocal language, what measures he is going to take to defend the EU’s interests and values.

1. How will the VP/HR sanction the dictator for this severe act of piracy, beyond mere rhetoric? Specifically, will he seek immediate, coordinated sanctions against Lukashenko and his acolytes, and will the EU suspend all European air traffic over and into Belarus?

2. What concrete actions will the VP/HR take to secure the immediate release of Roman Protasevich, his girlfriend, and other persons detained in this act of terrorism, and what is his message to all European travellers who rely on the EU to ensure their safety and security when travelling?

3. Such an act could not have been conducted without the tacit approval or even encouragement of Lukashenko’s main ally, Vladimir Putin. How is this going to be reflected in the VP/HR’s position towards the Kremlin regime?