On May 23, 2021, in what some EU leaders at the time called “hijacking,” the Ryanair flight from the Greek capital Athens to the Lithuanian capital Vilnius was escorted by a MiG-29 fighter jet and diverted to the Belarusian capital Minsk.

Upon landing, dissident Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend Sofia Sapega were taken into custody.

Protasevich was sentenced to eight years in prison for offenses including “inciting terrorism” and “organizing mass disturbances” but pardoned later the same month. Sapega was also pardoned in June 2023.

‘Enough evidence’

According to Polish authorities, prosecutors said the suspects are not in Poland but added that they have enough evidence to charge the three Belarusian citizens over the forced landing of the civilian airliner carrying an opposition journalist.

In a statement, Polish prosecutors said they had decided to bring charges against three Belarusians they identified as Leonid C. (former director of the Belarusian air navigation agency), Yevgenia T. (head of the air traffic control shift in Minsk), and Andrey AM (head of the KGB).

Polish law does not allow the publication of the last names of people facing criminal charges.

The charges relate to taking control of the Ryanair flight by providing the flight crew with false information about an alleged explosive device on board the aircraft, they added.

“This resulted in the unlawful deprivation of liberty of 132 people on board the aircraft, including citizens of the Republic of Poland.”

The European Union banned Belarus carriers from flying over its territory or having access to its airports as part of sanctions imposed after the 2021 incident.