Lithuania on Monday said it would not authorize any departing or arriving flights that cross Belarusian airspace, a day after Belarus forced a Vilnius-bound plane to land and arrested a journalist on board.

"Any flights to or from Lithuanian airports via Belarusian airspace are prohibited" from Tuesday, Transport Minister Marius Skuodis told a government meeting in the capital Vilnius.

The European Union has also summoned the Belarusian ambassador to condemn "the inadmissible step of the Belarusian authorities," according to an EU statement on Monday.

Meanwhile, Russia has defended the Belarusian authority's move, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov saying it is an "absolutely reasonable approach" during a press conference after a meeting with his Greek counterpart.

Earlier Monday, authorities in Belarus insisted they had acted legally when they diverted the flight. They accused the West of making unfounded claims for political reasons. 

(With input from AFP)