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Comment by Bang2Bay | Hacker News Reader

so modus operandi matters. if there were no fighter jets then the arrest was ok, it looks like.

Don't you see the difference? US pressured France and Spain to deny their airspace, but landing in Vienna was pilot's call. The pilot could have returned to Russia if they wanted. They erred on the caution side, and they were greeted by Austria's president. So shady, but not illegal, compared to for example the poisoning of Russia's dissidents by FSB.

What do you think would happen if Ryanair's pilot refuse to cooperate with Belarus's request?

One was tricked into grounding, the other was forced shrug

In both cases it was to detain somebody doing an act of public service on behalf of their country - an act treated as criminal. This is the important part.

Right, so forced and tricked aren't that much different in your book.

Passengers on the Bolivia's flight were at no point in danger. They could have picked another country, Russia or Russia-friendly one to land. Can you say the same with Ryannair's ones? Did they have the choice?

In Bolivian case the search was highly illegal and constituted casus beli. In Belorusian case all formal legal procedures were followed.

You jest, surely?

What would France and Spain have done if Bolivia's jet entered their airspace? I'm betting it would have involved fighter jets. That threat is why denying someone entry into your airspace is possible. Well, that and ground-to-air missiles. There's no need to exhibit force if it is already understood that force will by applied if you do not cooperate.

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