Belarus opposition figure detained after Ryanair flight diverted

Raman Pratasevich is arrested during an earlier protest (AP)

A prominent opponent of Belarus’ authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko has been arrested after the Ryanair plane in which he was traveling was diverted to the country after a bomb threat.

The opposition in Belarus and western officials have denounced the incident which led to the arrest of Raman Pratasevich as a hijacking operation by the country’s government.