Belarusian state television broadcast a 30-second video of journalist Roman Protasevich, confirming that he was in prison in the capital Minsk and ‘confessing’ to charges of organising mass unrest. SUPPLIED
EU Leaders cut Europe’s air links with Belarus on May 24, as strongman Alexander Lukashenko’s regime paraded a dissident journalist arrested after his flight was forced to land in Minsk.
Lukashenko sparked international outrage by dispatching a fighter jet on May 23 to intercept a Ryanair flight en route from Athens to Vilnius carrying wanted reporter Roman Protasevich, 26, and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega.
European leaders meeting in Brussels called for the release of the pair and hit back at Minsk by agreeing to ban Belarusian airlines from the bloc and urging EU-based carriers not to fly over its airspace.
The leaders also warned they would adopt further “targeted economic sanctions” against the Belarusian authorities to add to the 88 regime figures and seven companies already on a blacklist over a crackdown on opposition.
The move came as Belarusian state television broadcast a 30-second video of Protasevich, who had been living between Lithuania and Poland, confirming that he was in prison in Minsk and “confessing” to charges of organising mass unrest.
The footage showed Protasevich – who could face 15 years in jail – with dark markings visible on his forehead, saying he was being treated “according to the law”.
Britain on May 24 banned Belarus flag carrier Belavia and said Russia was likely complicit in the forced landing.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab told parliament: “It’s very difficult to believe that this kind of action could have been taken without at least the acquiescence of the authorities in Moscow.”
US President Joe Biden slammed the forced diversion of the plane and arrest of Protasevich as “a direct affront to international norms” and said the video appeared to have been made “under duress”.
He said in a White House statement: “I welcome the news that the European Union has called for targeted economic sanctions and other measures, and have asked my team to develop appropriate options to hold accountable those responsible.”
The Belarusian interior ministry on May 24 said Protasevich is being held in Minsk and dismissed unconfirmed reports that he was hospitalised.
