The EU flight ban for airlines based in Belarus has been officially in force since Saturday. The state-owned Belavia is primarily affected. The latter strongly criticized the decision of the EU Commission and stated, among other things, that the measure would violate international aviation law.

In a TV interview with the state station ONT, the head of the aviation department of the Belarus Ministry of Transport even spoke of the fact that the sanctions imposed by the European Union would constitute a “violent takeover of the business and the market”. Belavia had to cancel all flights that would use EU airspace or land at an airport in Union territory.

Belavia wants to realign itself and primarily target destinations in Russia and other CIS countries. Nevertheless, one obviously hopes that the sanctions on the part of the EU Commission will be ended as quickly as possible. It is also noteworthy that the TV interview did not mention any claims for damages.