Russia has stepped into the escalating international row over the downing of an airplane in Belarus by barring European planes from flying to Moscow.
The Guardian reports that the move follows decisions by two European carriers, Austrian Airlines and Air France, to post new routes that avoid entering Belarus' airspace (as per the recommendation of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency). As a result of Russia's new policy, Austrian Airlines was forced to cancel a flight from Vienna to Moscow, and Air France cancelled its Paris-Moscow flight for the second consecutive day.
The UN's International Civil Aviation Organization has announced that it will be investigating Belarus' decision to force an airplane carrying a government critic to land in its capital, Minsk. The critic was then arrested.