Roman Protasevich

Belarusian journalist and opposition activist

Roman Dmitriyevich Protasevich or Raman Dzmitryevich Pratasevich (Russian: Роман Дмитриевич Протасевич; Belarusian: Раман Дзмітрыевіч Пратасевіч; born 5 May 1995) is a Belarusian journalist and opposition activist. He was born in Minsk, Belarus.

Roman Protasevich
Роман Протасевич
Раман Пратасевіч
Born
Roman Dmitryevich Protasevich

(1995-05-05) 5 May 1995 (age 29)[1]
EducationBelarusian State University
Occupations
  • Journalist
  • activist
  • photographer
Years active2011–present
OrganizationNexta
MovementYoung Front
PartnerSofia Sapega

As of 2020, Protasevich ran the Nexta [pl] Telegram channel together with its co-creator Sciapan Pucila (Stepan Putilo).[2] In August 2020, after Belarusian authorities tried to censor internet access during the 2020 presidential election.[3]

On 23 May 2021, Ryanair Flight 4978 (AthensVilnius) with Protasevich on board, was forced to land by a Belarusian fighter jet[4] and diverted by Belarusian air traffic control to Minsk National Airport.[5][6]

On 24 May 2021, nine organizations (the Viasna Human Rights Centre, the Belarusian Association of Journalists, the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and others) made a statement together.[7] It said that he is a political prisoner.[7] On 31 May 2021, support for the political prisoner was undertaken by Cem Özdemir, a member of the Bundestag.[8][9]

On 3 May 2023, Protasevich was sentenced to eight years in prison.[10] However, on 22 May 2023, it was reported that Protasevich had been pardoned.[11] His pardon was confirmed the next day and Protasevich was released from custody.[12][13][14]

References

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  1. "КДБ унёс Сцяпана Пуцілу і Рамана Пратасевіча ў спіс тэрарыстаў". Nasha Niva (in Belarusian). 19 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021.
  2. ""Мне не по себе от кадров, где люди с дырками в теле". Интервью главреда Nexta - крупнейшего протестного канала в Беларуси". BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). 12 August 2020.
  3. Brunner, Simone (2021-05-24). "Niemand soll sich sicher fühlen" (in German). Die Zeit. Archived from the original on 2021-05-24. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
  4. Lister, Tim; Pavlova, Olga (23 May 2021). "Belarus activist arrested after fighter jet intercepts his Ryanair flight". CNN. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  5. "Belarus opposition says government forced Ryanair plane to land to arrest journalist". Deutsche Welle. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  6. "У аэрапорце Мінска, рэзка змяніўшы курс, прызямліўся самалёт Афіны—Вільня — на борце быў Раман Пратасевіч" (in Belarusian). Nasha Niva.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "Immediately release political prisoner Raman Pratasevich!". Viasna Human Rights Centre. 2021-05-24. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
  8. "Cem Özdemir is committed to the release of Raman Pratasevich". Libereco – Partnership for Human Rights. 2021-05-31. Archived from the original on 2021-05-31. Retrieved 2021-05-31.
  9. Демидова, Ольга (2021-05-31). "Один из лидеров "зеленых" Германии взял шефство над Романом Протасевичем" (in Russian). Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 2021-06-01. Retrieved 2021-06-01.
  10. "Belarusian activist Protasevich sentenced to eight years in jail". Al Jazeera. 2023-05-03.
  11. "Belarus pardons opposition blogger arrested after plane's forced landing". The Washington Post. 22 May 2023.
  12. "Lukashenko 'pardons' Belarus activist taken off flight". FRANCE 24. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  13. "Belarusian activist Roman Protasevich 'pardoned by Minsk'". Al Jazeera. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  14. Radford, Antoinette (22 May 2023). "Roman Protasevich: Belarus pardons activist hauled off flight". BBC News.