(Mindaugas Kulbis/The Associated Press)The press service of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the president himself ordered that a MiG-29 fighter jet accompany the airliner after he was informed of the bomb threat. Because now, this instrument could be used for any plane crossing Belarusian airspace," said Lithuania's foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis. But Landsbergis, the Lithuanian foreign minister, said there were 171. Months of protests erupted in Belarus after last August's presidential election that official results said gave Lukashenko a sixth term in office. Although protests died down during the winter, Belarus has continued to take actions against the opposition and independent news media.

Source: CBC News May 23, 2021 21:45 UTC