National

Trudeau mulling more actions against Belarus

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 25 May, 2021 09:48 AM

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is weighing measures beyond existing sanctions against Belarus after its government forced down an airliner and seized a dissident journalist on board.

At a news conference Tuesday, Trudeau is calling the incident "outrageous, illegal and completely unacceptable."

The prime minister says the arrest Sunday of Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich after his Ryanair flight was intercepted by a Belarusian fighter jet in the country's airspace amounts to a "clear attack on democracy and freedom of the press."

Trudeau is calling for Protasevich's immediate release, and says he is considering "further options" regarding the regime.

Canada announced sanctions against 55 Belarusian officials last year after an election that Ottawa said was "marred by widespread irregularities" amid a "systemic campaign of repression" and human rights violations under President Alexander Lukashenko.

Since Sunday, airlines have rerouted flights to avoid the country's airspace and European Union leaders have directed officials to draft unspecified sanctions against Minsk, on top of a potential ban on Belarusian airlines from EU skies.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has deemed the event "state hijacking" and Ireland and France have characterized it as piracy amid mounting international outrage.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 25, 2021.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Raymond said killings 'not my fault': witness

On Sept. 15 when the trial opened, lawyers for Raymond acknowledged their client shot and killed the four people but said he is not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

Raymond said killings 'not my fault': witness

Supreme Court reserves judgment on carbon tax

After two days of hearings and presentations from more than two dozen interested parties, the court adjourned without yet deciding whether the carbon price is constitutional.

Supreme Court reserves judgment on carbon tax

Liberals unveil sweeping plans for now, future

The Liberals framed their approach Wednesday as giving Canadians a choice, in an echo of their 2019 election campaign strategy.

Liberals unveil sweeping plans for now, future

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

The plan also includes reconstituting committees such as a special body examining Canada-China relations.

Parties agree on hybrid Commons sittings

Overdose deaths drop in August from July in B.C.

Data from the coroners service show overdose deaths began increasing in B.C. just as the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March, when 113 people died, up from 73 in February.

Overdose deaths drop in August from July in B.C.

Five highlights from the throne speech

Aiming to make Canada a world leader in clean technology, the Liberals promise a new fund to attract investments in making zero-emissions products. The government will also cut the corporate tax rate in half for these companies.