Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

I didn't 'miss' anything ;)

Tell me please, maybe with examples, of what sort of “targeted economic measures" could be aimed at "companies and oligarchs" that might make them do a complete about face . . . without potentially causing harm to the people of Belarus that (probably) rely on them.

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Hopefully you can now appreciate why the funding of a Prime Minister's house redecoration matters.

If it was by a Belarussian oligarch, you can understand why that prime Minister but not be first off the block to apply economic sanctions.

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

oilycarp wallpaper

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Well done Andrew, you spotted another occasion where you can have a pop at the Govt.

Mind you, the (sub) topic I remarked on was in your previous post . . EU agrees sanctions on Belarus for forcing down flight . . and, as you may have lately noticed, we (as in Boris etc) are not in the EU :p:

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Not really, an explanation to help in the understanding why transparency in such matters is important. Politicising it is a weak defence of a robust principal that all parties should adhere to and I prefer to hold those in power to account and not give them a free pass because I voted for them.

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

You mean like freezing their overseas bank accounts, so they can't access their funny money?

The "people of Belarus" are out in the streets protesting about their dictatorship of a Government, and want other countries support.

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Good answer, let's freeze their 'assets' . . . I'm sure they then won't be petty enough to 'temporarily' close down the main gas supply routes for maintenance purposes :D

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Hugh did make some robust suggestions in the post you quoted. :confused:

I think it's hard to hold these rogue states to account easily. I guess now Belavia will fly to the UK and then passengers can catch a connecting flight to an EU state.

I can't think of a country in the last 30 years that's changed positively as a result of sanctions but that's not to say it's not happened. However, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be tried. Certainly, it could be seen as motivating to opposition leaders in the country itself.

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Good call on Cuba.

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Unconscious bias - you want to watch that… ;)

---------- Post added at 18:42 ---------- Previous post was at 18:41 ----------

Russians won’t let them - it’s the only thing keeping their economy afloat…

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

The UK responded quite a bit faster than the EU and had already banned Belavia from coming to the UK by teatime yesterday. In several posts in this thread you have implied that the UK needs to catch up with EU decisions sanctioning Belarus while in reality it's the EU that is in the UK's shadow. This is unsurprising, seeing as we don't have to convene a meeting of 27 heads of government before doing anything. You might try removing your blue-and-gold tinted glasses before commenting further.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel...-b1852919.html

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

In real terms we'll do diddly squat just like we've done diddly squat about state sponsored terrorism on our own soil.

We're a small, weak insignificant country these days. Weak prey to Putin and buddies, its a long game they've been playing for a few years now by interfering in our democracy. Divide and conquer.

Re: Belarus accused of hijacking plane
 

Always good to see your high opinion of your country :erm: