EU bans Belarus planes from its airspace over activist arrest

Move follows forced landing of Ryanair flight and detention of Raman Pratasevich last month

The EU has banned Belarusian carriers from its airspace and airports over the forced landing of Ryanair flight FR4978 and arrest of the opposition activist and journalist Raman Pratasevich.

EU ambassadors agreed during a meeting on Friday to require member states to deny the country's carriers landing and taking off rights and forbid them from overflying the territory of the 27 member states from Saturday.