The Kremlin refused to participate “in the race” due to threats of sanctions against Belarus

Press Secretary of the President of RUSSIA Dmitry Peskov, commenting on Western calls to impose sanctions in connection with the incident with the Ryanair plane, which made an emergency landing in Minsk, said that the incident must first be given a sober assessment, RBC correspondent reports.

Answering the question whether the incident would also have consequences for Russia, Peskov said: “I would not unite them into a single system. For now, you just need to soberly assess the event with this aircraft.

“Someone is demanding a sanction, someone says that it was in line with international rules and norms. We would not want to participate in this race now," Peskov said.

He added that the Kremlin did not get in touch with the Belarusian authorities because of the situation with the plane. “The Kremlin does not deal with [this]. This issue of consular services for Russian citizens abroad is entirely the prerogative of the Foreign Ministry, ”the press secretary of the HEAD of state emphasized.