Belarus Says It Has Pardoned The Opposition Journalist It Arrested Through “Hijacking” His Flight
Some opposition activists say Roman Protasevich may have been pardoned after being forced to collaborate with authorities.
Belarus has pardoned the prominent opposition journalist it arrested through “hijacking” his flight after sentencing him to eight years in prison.
27-year-old Roman Protasevich had been flying from Greece to Lithuania in May 2021 when Belarus’ president ordered a fighter jet to intercept the passenger jet and force it to land in Minsk.
Upon landing, Belarus authorities immediately detained Protasevich and his girlfriend.
Authorities then released footage of Protasevich with visible bruises, confessing to organizing anti-government protests and praising the long-standing president Alexander Lukashenko.
Protasevich was a co-founder of a popular opposition Telegram channel, which reported on the mass protests against Lukashenko’s re-election in 2020.
Protesters and Western governments say the election was rigged so that Lukashenko could secure a sixth term.
The “hijacking” was widely denounced and led to EU countries imposing sanctions on Belarus.
On May 2, Protasevich was jailed for conspiring against the state, organizing mass disturbances, and inciting acts of terrorism and slandering Lukashenko.
His then girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, had been sentenced to six years in prison for “inciting hatred” in May 2022. State media said Protasevich would be serving his time in a penal colony.
Belarus has pardoned the prominent opposition journalist it arrested through “hijacking” his flight after sentencing him to eight years in prison weeks earlier.
27-year-old Roman Protasevich had been flying from Greece to Lithuania in May 2021 when Belarus’ president ordered a fighter jet to intercept the passenger jet and force it to land in Minsk.
Upon landing, Belarus authorities immediately detained Protasevich and his girlfriend.
Authorities then released footage of Protasevich with visible bruises, confessing to organizing anti-government protests and praising the long-standing president Alexander Lukashenko.
Protasevich was a co-founder of a popular opposition Telegram channel, which reported on the mass protests against Lukashenko’s re-election in 2020.
Protesters and Western governments say the election was rigged so that Lukashenko could secure a sixth term.
The “hijacking” was widely denounced and led to EU countries imposing sanctions on Belarus.
On Wednesday May 2, Protasevich was jailed for conspiring against the state, organizing mass disturbances, and inciting acts of terrorism and slandering Lukashenko.
His then girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, had been sentenced to six years in prison for “inciting hatred” in May 2022.
However, on Monday May 22, Belarus’ state news agency Belta said that Protasevich had told journalists he had been pardoned.
In a video published by Belta, Protasevich said he was “insanely grateful to the country and personally to the president”.
The pardon is seen as a rare move in Belarus, where Lukashenko has violently cracked down on anti-government protests and jailed almost all opposition leaders.
Some opposition activists say Protasevich may have been pardoned after being forced to collaborate with authorities.
More than 1,500 people remain political prisoners in Belarus, according to human rights groups.
