G7 condemns Belarus actions to arrest journalist

G7 condemned Belarus on Thursday for forcing a passenger plane to land so the authorities could arrest a journalist on board.

“This action jeopardised the safety of the passengers and crew of the flight. It was also a serious attack on the rules governing civil aviation,” said the statement, issued by Britain’s foreign office on behalf of foreign ministers from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United States and Britain.

“We will enhance our efforts, including through further sanctions as appropriate, to promote accountability for the actions of the Belarusian authorities.”

(Reporting by William James, editing by Elizabeth Piper)