rights violations and suppression of political opposition that are still present in Belarus. In 2019, Lukashenko made his first official visit to the European Union since sanctions ended. The EU's Eastern Partnership program and further economic initiatives were discussed in Lukashenko's meeting with Austria's Sebastian Kurz. In 2016, two opposition candidates were elected to Belarus' parliament. This was marked as a step to democratisation by several EU officials. The visa system is functioning between the EU and Belarus, with Schengen visas required for Belarusians wishing to entry the European Union. Belarus introduced a visa-free entry for citizens of 70 countries including the EU in 2017. In 2019, it was announced that the EU would simplify requirements for obtaining Schengen visas for Belarusians, reducing its costs and time needed for application approval. Belarus-EU relations are complicated by the stronger Belarusian ties with Russia, who emerged as active EU critic and opponent after the annexation of Crimea in 2014. Belarus is a part of the Belarus-Russia Union State, as well as the European-Asian Union, a customs union which includes both countries and several other CIS-members. As of today, the Belarus-Russia integration is mostly economic, with free trade and free movement zones established between the two countries, but Russia is being seen as demanding deeper political and administrative integration. In 2021, Ryanair flight 4978 from Greece to Lithuania (both EU members) was forced to land in Minsk by the Belarusian Air Force. The flight was less than 10 km from its destination but still in Belarusian air space. Two passengers, journalist Roman Protasevich, who had published negative comments about the Belarusian government, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, were taken and arrested by authorities and the plane was allowed to depart 7 hours later. EU members unanimously condemned the action and began to discuss possible responses. As a response by the EU to the incident, Belarusian airliners have been banned from flying over the EU's airspace and from using any airport of the 27 countries that are members of the bloc. Later in 2021, Belarusian athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya applied for asylum in a number of European Union countries after Belarusian officials tried to force her onto a plane at Tokyo's airport. At the airport, airport police stopped the repatriation and took her to a safe area at the airport. She was able to fly to Poland after they gave her a humanitarian visa. In