Belarus: Russia blocks some flights for avoiding its Combine

Russia has denied entry to two European airlines because they planned to avoid flying over Belarus to get to Moscow.

Air France and Austrian Airlines have both had to cancel services after their flight plans were rejected by Russia.

Belarusian dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend were then arrested.

EU leaders asked European carriers to avoid Belarusian airspace this week after a Ryanair plane was initiated to divert and land in Minsk on Sunday.

The UN’s civil aviation agency has said it will launch a “fact-finding” investigation into Belarus’s actions, and whether there had been any breach of international aviation law.

Russia is a strong ally of Belarus and President Vladimir Putin is set to discuss the unfolding crisis with Belarus’s leader of 26 years, Alexander Lukashenko, in the Russian resort of Sochi on Friday.

The decision to refuse entry to specific flights is the first move from the Kremlin over the diplomatic conflict. Other flights involving German carrier Lufthansa and Polish airline Lot have arrived as scheduled. Russia is yet to comment on the action it is taking.