Turkish Airlines rebuffs illegal immigration claims as 'unfounded'
"We would like to respectfully inform the public that the allegations in the media are without any basis," Turkish Airlines said in a statement by rebuffing the claims that the air carrier was flying migrants to Belarus amid a migration crisis.
- Economy
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 06:17 | 09 November 2021
- Modified Date: 06:22 | 09 November 2021
Turkish Airlines flights to Belarus are in no way aiding in illegal immigration traffic, the flag carrier said Tuesday.
"Our company makes sure to comply with all security measures and sensibilities in cooperation with international officials in all its flights operated to all corners of the world," said a company statement, rebuffing press claims that the air carrier was flying migrants to Belarus amid a migration crisis there.
"We would like to respectfully inform the public that the allegations in the media are without any basis," it asserted.
Poland and the EU have accused Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko of trying to retaliate for EU sanctions by deliberately inviting in and herding migrants towards the Polish border.
NATO and the EU consider Belarus' approach towards migrants an effort to destabilize and undermine security in European countries through non-military means.
According to estimates from last month, over 6,000 migrants, mostly from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, tried to enter the EU via the Belarus-EU border, up sharply from just 150 last year.
- Original Apple computer built by Jobs and Wozniak sells for $400k
- Greenland passes law banning uranium mining
- Australia to set up $740 mln fund to develop low-emissions technology
- A "potentially dangerous" asteroid is getting closer to the Earth
- Turkish firm Dorce Prefabrik produces container homes for refugees