Protasevich is a co-founder and a former editor of the NEXTA channel on social media platform Telegram, which has become a popular conduit for Lukashenko’s rivals to share information and organize demonstrations against the incumbent government.
A commercial flight carrying a dissident journalist was intercepted by a MiG-29 fighter jet under orders from the authoritarian president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko. It was forced to divert to Minsk, the Belarus capital from its scheduled arrival at Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, ostensibly over a “potential security threat on board,”
Authorities boarded the plane and arrested Raman Pratasevich, the former editor-in-chief of one the most popular Telegram news channels in Belarus. Pratasevich wasn’t on the plane when it took off again, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said in a recorded statement.
After finally landing in Vilnius several hours after the scheduled time of arrival — without Protasevich — some passengers described seeing the activist looking nervous as the flight was diverted to Belarus.
“He just turned to people and said he was facing the death penalty,” Monika Simkiene, a 40-year-old Lithuanian, told AFP.
“When it was announced they were going to land in Minsk, Roman stood up, opened the luggage compartment, took the luggage, and was trying to split things,” said the Lithuanian passenger, who gave his name only as Mantas.
Protasevich is a co-founder and a former editor of the NEXTA channel on social media platform Telegram, which has become a popular conduit for Lukashenko’s rivals to share information and organize demonstrations against the incumbent government.
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He fled the country in 2019, fearing arrest. But he has continued to roil Lukashenko’s regime while living in exile in Lithuania, so much so that he was charged in November with inciting public disorder and social hatred.
Protasevich, 26 was immediately separated on arrival in Minsk, and checks of luggage using sniffer dogs turned up nothing.
His arrest has caused tremendous outrage amongst the international community. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said “The United States strongly condemns the forced diversion of a flight between two EU member states and the subsequent removal and arrest of journalist Roman Pratasevich,”
We strongly condemn the Lukashenka regime's brazen and shocking act to divert a commercial flight and arrest a journalist. We demand an international investigation and are coordinating with our partners on next steps. The United States stands with the people of Belarus.
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) May 23, 2021
“This is a serious and dangerous incident, which requires international investigation,” NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter.
Closely monitoring forcible landing in #Belarus of flight to Vilnius & reported detention of opposition figure Roman Protasevich. This is a serious & dangerous incident which requires international investigation. Belarus must ensure safe return of crew & all passengers.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) May 23, 2021
The European Union is set to discuss toughening its existing sanctions against Belarus — imposed over the crackdown by the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko on opposition protesters — at a pre-planned summit on Monday.
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