Minutes to touchdown: the moment a Belarusian dissident knew his time was up

Mantas, a Lithuanian passenger of Ryanair flight FR4978, speaks to the media after arriving at Vilnius Airport, Lithuania, May 23, 2021. REUTERS/Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Ryanair Flight 4978 had already begun its descent into the Lithuanian capital when the pilot announced that the plane would be suddenly diverting to Minsk, capital of neighbouring Belarus.

There was no explanation.