The decision comes as a part of planned punitive measures against Belarus in response to Minsk's forcing a Ryanair flight carrying an opposition journalist to land.

The move will take effect at midnight Central European Time, European Union officials said.

In a safety directive issued on Wednesday, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency urged all EU aircraft not to fly over Belarus air space unless in an emergency.

On 23 May, Ryanair flight 4978 from Greece to Lithuania (both EU members) was forced to land by the Belarusian air force. The flight was under 10 km from its destination but still in Belarusian air space.

A passenger, journalist Roman Protasevich, who had published negative comments about the Belarusian government, was taken by authorities and the plane was allowed to depart 7 hours later. EU members unanimously condemned the action and are presently discussing possible responses. (ILKHA)