Roman Protasevich

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Eastern Slavic naming convention, the patronymic is Dmitriyevich and the family name is Protasevich.

Roman Protasevich
Роман Протасевич
Раман Пратасевіч
Роман Протасевич.jpg
Protasevich at a press conference in June 2021
Born
Roman Dmitryevich Protasevich

(1995-05-05) 5 May 1995 (age 26)
Minsk, Belarus
EducationBelarusian State University
Occupation
  • Journalist
  • activist
  • photographer
Years active2011–present
OrganizationNexta
MovementYoung Front
Partner(s)Sofia Sapega

Roman Dmitriyevich Protasevich (Russian: Роман Дмитриевич Протасевич; born 5 May 1995), or Raman Dzmitryyevich Pratasyevich (Belarusian: Раман Дзмітрыевіч Пратасевіч, romanized: Raman Dzmitryjevič Pratasievič), is a Belarusian journalist and political activist. He was the editor-in-chief of the Telegram channel Nexta and the chief editor of the Telegram channel "Belarus of the Brain" (Russian: Беларусь головного мозга). Protasevich was arrested by Belarusian authorities after his flight, Ryanair Flight 4978, was diverted to Minsk on the orders of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko on 23 May 2021, because of a false bomb threat conveyed by Belarusian air traffic control.[1]

Personal life[]

Protasevich was born on 5 May 1995 in Minsk, Belarus.[2][3] He moved to Poland in 2019.[4]

Protasevich's father Dmitry is a Belarusian army reserve officer and a lecturer at a Belarusian military academy.[5] He was stripped of his military rank and awards by a personal decree of President Alexander Lukashenko on 6 May 2021.[3] Protasevich's parents moved to join their son in Poland in August 2020.[5][6]

Protasevich is in a relationship with Russian citizen Sofia Sapega, who was also detained by Belarusian authorities on 23 May 2021.[7][8] According to Sapega's mother she and Protasevich had known each other for about six months prior to his arrest in May 2021.[9] Sapega was born in Vladivostok, Russia, but has spent most of her life in Belarus.[9][8] At the time of her arrest she was an international law student at the European Humanities University in Vilnius.[9]

Career[]

Opposition activism and work in Belarus (2011–2019)[]

Protasevich has been an opposition activist and participated in protests since the early 2010s, when he was detained several times.[10]

Since 2011, he has been a member of the opposition organization Young Front.[11] He co-administered a major group in VKontakte, a social network, in opposition to President Alexander Lukashenko until 2012, when it was hacked by the authorities.[12] For a month he took part in the Euromaidan protests.[13]

He studied journalism at Belarusian State University until he was expelled in 2018.[14] In 2017, he was accused of participating in an unauthorized event in Kurapaty, but he proved in court that he had an alibi for that day.[15] In an interview he said that for several years he was a reporter for several major Belarusian media.[16] He also worked for the Belarusian edition of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty;[17] from 2017 to 2018, as an independent journalist, he had been a Václav Havel Fellow in Journalism in Prague, co-sponsored by the broadcaster.[18]

In March 2019 he was a photographer for Euroradio.fm at the meeting of prime ministers of Austria (Sebastian Kurz) and Belarus (Sergey Rumas) in Minsk.[19] In addition to photographs, he made at least one video report for Euroradio about Chechen refugees trying to move to the EU through Belarus.[20]

Opposition activism in exile (2019–2021)[]

In 2019, Protasevich moved to Poland.[4] On 22 January 2020, he announced that he asked for political asylum in Poland.[10]

In 2020, Protasevich ran the Nexta Telegram channel together with its co-creator Sciapan Pucila (Stepan Putilo).[16] In August 2020, after Belarusian authorities tried to disable internet access during the 2020 presidential election, Nexta became one of the main sources of information about the protests against alleged rigged elections and started to coordinate the protests.[16] The channel had got nearly 800,000 new subscribers in a week.[16] In September 2020 Protasevich left Nexta.[4][17]

On 5 November 2020, Protasevich and Pucila were accused of organizing mass riots (article 293 of the Belarusian criminal code), actions that grossly violate public order (article 342) and incitement of social enmity based on professional affiliation (article 130, part 3). On 19 November, the Belarusian KGB put them on the "list of organizations and individuals involved in terrorist activities" for "mass unrest".[21]

On 2 March 2021, Protasevich announced that he had begun working for the "Belarus of the Brain" Telegram channel formerly edited by a detained blogger, Ihar Losik.[22][17]

The arrest[]

Ryanair Flight 4978[]

Main article: Ryanair Flight 4978

On 23 May 2021, Ryanair Flight 4978 (Athens–Vilnius), with Protasevich on board, received a false bomb threat[23] and was diverted by Belarusian air traffic control to Minsk National Airport.[24][25] While in Athens, Protasevich sent messages through Telegram saying he had seen a bald man at the airport following him and taking photographs of him.[26] Minsk airport staff said they landed the plane due to a report of a bomb aboard. Lithuanian airport authorities stated that they had not been informed of a bomb threat.[23] The plane changed course just before it would have entered Lithuanian airspace.[26] According to a witness cited by Reuters, upon hearing of the diversion to Minsk, Protasevich immediately gave some of his luggage to his girlfriend.[27] In Minsk, Protasevich and his girlfriend were arrested at the passport control. No bomb was found aboard.[24][25][28] Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, according to his press service, personally ordered the plane redirected to Minsk and sent a Belarusian Air Force MiG-29 fighter aircraft to escort it.[24][29][30]

Shortly after the landing in Minsk, Protasevich was taken away by Belarusian police.[18] A fellow passenger was reported to have heard Protasevich speak of the possibility of facing the death penalty, which exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya warned about the same day. The mass unrest charges against Protasevich could carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years.[31][32][33] He had traveled to Athens to cover a visit by Tsikhanouskaya to the Delphi Economic Forum, an international forum in Greece.[31]

Protasevich in captivity[]

The day after the arrest, Belarusian state television released a video of Protasevich, with dark markings on his forehead, in which he stated that he would confess to organizing "mass unrest" and that he did not have health problems, after unconfirmed reports of a heart condition.[34] Protasevich's father said the video appeared forced and his nose seemed to have been broken,[35] while allies of Protasevich, including exiled opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, said the video "is how Roman looks under physical and moral pressure".[36] The Viasna Human Rights Centre and other Belarusian human rights organizations named Protasevich a political prisoner in a joint statement and demanded his immediate release.[37] Amnesty International called for the release of Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, saying "their arrest is arbitrary and unlawful, and its circumstances are nothing short of horrifying".[38]

The authorities prevented Roman's parents and a hired lawyer Inessa Olenskaya from visiting him and obtaining information about his location and medical condition until 27 May. On 25 May, Olenskaya was not allowed to enter SIZO No.1 prison in Minsk and did not get a call back from the Investigative Committee officers.[39][40] The Minsk branch of the Investigative Committee delayed the process of signing the charging documents, and the SIZO staff later claimed that they didn't have Protasevich.[40] On 27 May 2021, his mother held a press conference, calling for medical help to Roman. She said she has no information about Roman's location and complained that she couldn't send him any things or messages via his lawyer.[41][42]

Olenskaya made a formal complaint to the office of Belarusian Prosecutor-General for being denied access to her client and made a motion for a medical examination of Roman.[43] According to Roman's grandparents, on 23 May someone visited them introducing as a "Roman's first lawyer" and unsuccessfully asked to sign document making him a legal representative of Roman.[44] On the evening of 27 May, Olenskaya was allowed to meet with Roman, but due to a non-disclosure agreement with authorities she was not allowed to tell the journalists his location and his legal status.[45]

On 3 June 2021, another video of Protasevich was aired by Belarus state media in which he, apparently under duress, repeats his "confessions".[46] On 14 June 2021, he appeared again in public at a news conference in Minsk to repeat that he felt just fine and had not been beaten.[47]

On 25 June 2021, Protasevich and his partner Sapega were transferred to house arrest.[48][49] Investigators stated the pair had agreed to a plea deal in which they will "expose their accomplices and do their best to compensate for the damage they caused".[50] On 7 July 2021, Protasevich was provided an internet connection and he created a Twitter account, where he stated that he stayed together with Sapega in a private house outside the city with a courtyard and that no one had beaten him.[51] According to Reuters, journalists were "unable to verify whether the account belonged to Protasevich or whether he was drafting his comments unassisted".[52]

Arrest of Sofia Sapega[]

Protasevich's girlfriend Sofia Sapega was also arrested on Ryanair Flight 4978.[9] She was remanded in custody for two months.[53] According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sapega was accused of breaking Belarusian law in August and September 2020;[9] they did not say what laws she allegedly broke.[9] In a video released by Belarusian authorities she claimed that she was an editor of Black Book of Belarus,[9] a Telegram channel which has published the personal information of security officials that Belarus has classified as an extremist group.[9]

Sapega's mother and several of her classmates told BBC News that she was not involved in the 2020–2021 Belarusian protests, and had been living in Vilnius since August 2020.[9] Sapega's mother was not allowed to visit her daughter in prison.[53]

In a 26 May 2021 speech in Belarusian parliament President Alexander Lukashenko labelled Protasevich and Sapega "agents of Western intelligence".[53] On 4 June 2021, the chairman of Investigative Committee of the Belarusian KGB said that Sofia Sapega was charged of "inciting hatred" and "mass disorder".[54]

Azov Battalion allegations[]

Belarusian media accused Protasevich of fighting along with the Ukrainian ultra-nationalist Azov Battalion.[55] According to the BBC, the "pro-Lukashenko press in Belarus has portrayed the dissident journalist as an extremist with right-wing sympathies".[8] Protasevich said in 2020 that he had spent a year in Ukraine covering the war in Donbas as a freelancing photojournalist.[56] Azov Battalion founder Andriy Biletsky wrote about Protasevich, "Roman was indeed together with Azov and other military units that fought against the occupation of Ukraine, though his weapon as a journalist wasn’t an automatic rifle but the written word", and that he was wounded at the 2015 Shyrokyne standoff.[57][58][59]

Luhansk People's Republic, an unrecognized breakaway polity and participant in the war in Donbas accused Protasevich of having been a member of the Azov Battalion and having "committed a number of particularly serious crimes, which manifested themselves in the shelling of Donetsk People's Republic settlements, which caused the death and injury of civilians, destruction and damage to civilian infrastructure."[60][61] Luhansk People's Republic opened a criminal case against Protasevich and asked for his extradition to Belarus. The Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko said he was not opposed to Protasevich being interrogated by investigators from the rebel republics involved in the Donbass war against Ukraine, as long as this happens on Belarusian soil.[62][63] On 16 June 2021, representatives of the Luhansk People's Republic declared that Roman Protasevich had been "interrogated". The Ukrainian embassy in Minsk has asked the Belarusian authorities for official explanations.[64]

References[]

  1. ^ "Plane carrying Belarusian opposition figure ordered to divert to Minsk by President Alexander Lukashenko". www.abc.net.au. 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  2. ^ "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. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Biography of Roman Protasevich: what is known about the Belarusian oppositionist". UNIAN (in Ukrainian). 26 May 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Главный редактор Nexta Роман Протасевич уходит из проекта" [Nexta Editor-in-Chief Roman Protasevich is leaving the project] (in Russian). 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "Who is Roman Protasevich? Belarus dissident journalist in profile". BBC News. 24 May 2021.
  6. ^ "Лукашенко лишил воинского звания отца бывшего главреда Nexta Дмитрия Протасевича" [Lukashenko stripped the father of former Nexta editor-in-chief Dmitri Protasevich of his military rank] (in Russian). 6 May 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Families in anguish over pair held in Belarus". BBC News. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Belarus plane: What we know and what we don't". BBC. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 11 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i "Belarus plane: Who is Russian student Sofia Sapega?". BBC News. 27 May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Бывший журналист Еврорадио Роман Протасевич попросил убежища в Польше" [Former Euroradio journalist Roman Protasiewicz sought asylum in Poland]. Новости Беларуси | euroradio.fm (in Russian). 22 January 2020. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  11. ^ "Роман Протасевич: О политике в семье не говорим" [Roman Protasiewicz: We don't talk about politics in the family]. belaruspartisan.by (in Russian). 5 December 2011. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  12. ^ "В Минске задержаны модераторы социальных сетей" [Moderators of social networks detained in Minsk]. spring96.org (in Russian). 30 August 2012. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Братская война. За что воюет белорусский доброволец в Донбассе" [Fraternal War. What Belarusian volunteers are fighting for in Donbas]. ФОКУС (in Russian). 16 June 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  14. ^ "З журфака адлічылі блогера Рамана Пратасевіча" [Blogger Raman Protasevich was expelled from the journalism school]. novychas.by (in Belarusian). 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  15. ^ "Суд оправдал блогера Романа Протасевича" [Court acquits blogger Roman Protasevich]. spring96.org (in Russian). 17 April 2017. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  16. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Goryashko, Sergei (12 August 2020). ""Мне не по себе от кадров, где люди с дырками в теле". Интервью главреда Nexta – крупнейшего протестного канала в Беларуси" ["I feel uncomfortable with footage of people with holes in their bodies." Interview with the head of Nexta, the largest protest channel in Belarus]. BBC News Русская служба (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Кто такой Роман Протасевич: журналист, блогер, "террорист" – биография" [Who is Roman Protasevich: journalist, blogger, "terrorist" – biography]. officelife.media (in Russian). 20 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "EU Demands Belarus Explain 'Unprecedented' Diversion Of Passenger Plane, Detention Of Journalist". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 23 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  19. ^ "На вечере памяти Сергей Румас выступил перед австрийским канцлером по-белорусски" [Sergei Rumas addressed the Austrian chancellor at a memorial evening in Belarusian]. Новости Беларуси | euroradio.fm (in Russian). 29 March 2019. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Макей на раздачы бургераў і злы Лукашэнка: найлепшыя кадры Рамана Пратасевіча" [Makei at the distribution of burgers and the evil Lukashenko: the best shots of Roman Protasevich]. Навіны Беларусі | euroradio.fm (in Belarusian). 27 May 2021. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  21. ^ "NEXTA journalists now on terrorist wanted list". Belsat TV. 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  22. ^ "Протасевич: теперь работаю в проекте "Беларусь головного мозга" Игоря Лосика" [Protasiewicz: now working in Igor Losik's brain Belarus project]. Новости Беларуси | euroradio.fm (in Russian). 2 March 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b Lister, Tim; Pavlova, Olga (23 May 2021). "Belarus activist arrested after fighter jet intercepts his Ryanair flight". CNN. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  24. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Belarus opposition says government forced Ryanair plane to land to arrest journalist". Deutsche Welle. 23 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b "У аэрапорце Мінска, рэзка змяніўшы курс, прызямліўся самалёт Афіны – Вільня – на борце быў Раман Пратасевіч" [At the airport of Minsk, having changed course abruptly, the plane of Athens – Vilnius has landed – on board was Roman Protasevich]. Nasha Niva (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  26. ^ Jump up to: a b Troinovski, Anton; Nechepurenko, Ivan (23 May 2021). "Belarus Forces Down Plane to Seize Dissident; Europe Sees 'State Hijacking'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  27. ^ Sytas, Andrius (23 May 2021). "Minutes to touchdown: the moment a Belarusian dissident knew his time was up". Reuters. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  28. ^ Plikūnė, Dalia; Užusienytė, Jogintė (23 May 2021). "Be opozicionieriaus ir jo draugės į Lietuvą negrįžo ir dar keturi lėktuvo keleiviai: kas jie – kol kas mįslė" [In addition to the opposition and his girlfriend, four more passengers did not return to Lithuania: who they are – a mystery so far]. DELFI (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  29. ^ Спевак, Дарья; Ошуркевич, Татьяна (23 May 2021). "Самолет Ryanair экстренно посадили в Минске. Самое важное – Люди Onliner" [A Ryanair plane was grounded in Minsk in an emergency. The most important]. Onliner (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  30. ^ "У аэрапорце "Мінск" затрыманы блогер Раман Пратасевіч" [Blogger Roman Pratasevich was detained at Minsk Airport]. spring96.org (in Belarusian). 23 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b Roth, Andrew (23 May 2021). "Belarus accused of 'hijacking' Ryanair flight diverted to arrest blogger". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  32. ^ "Belarus arrests opposition figure after flight diverted". Al Jazeera. 23 May 2021. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  33. ^ Павлюк, Олег (23 May 2021). "В Минске задержали основателя Telegram-канала NEXTA. Для этого экстренно посадили самолет якобы из-за минирования | Громадское телевидение" [The founder of the Telegram channel NEXTA was detained in Minsk. The plane was urgently grounded for this purpose, allegedly because of a bomb threat]. hromadske.ua (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  34. ^ Quemener, Tangi (25 May 2021). "Detained Belarus Activist Roman Protasevich Filmed 'Confessing'". The Moscow Times. Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  35. ^ Marris, Sharon (25 May 2021). "Father of detained journalist Roman Protasevich: Video admission was 'forced'". Sky News. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  36. ^ "EU leaders sanction Belarus over arrest of Roman Protasevich, as dissident journalist appears in video from Minsk detention facility". ABC News. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Immediately release political prisoner Raman Pratasevich!". Viasna Human Rights Centre. 24 May 2021. Archived from the original on 25 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  38. ^ "Belarus: Free journalist detained following forced emergency landing in Minsk". Amnesty International. 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  39. ^ "Адвакат не можа сустрэцца з палітвязнем Раманам Пратасевічам" [The lawyer cannot meet with political prisoner Raman Protasevich]. euroradio.pl (in Belarusian). 25 May 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b "К Роману Протасевичу второй день не пускают адвоката" [Roman Protasiewicz has not been allowed to see his lawyer for two days]. Белорусский партизан (in Russian). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  41. ^ Silva, Chantal Da (27 May 2021). "'Hear the scream of my heart': Protasevich's mum pleads for help". euronews. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  42. ^ ""Мы не знаем, где наш сын": родители арестованного в Беларуси Романа Протасевича потребовали оказать ему независимую медицинскую помощь" ["We don't know where our son is": the parents of Roman Protasevich, arrested in Belarus, demanded independent medical care for him]. Новая газета (in Russian). 27 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  43. ^ "Адвокат Протасевича подала жалобу в Генпрокуратуру с требованием разрешить встречу и медицинский осмотр" [Protasiewicz's lawyer filed a complaint with the General Prosecutor's Office, demanding to allow a meeting and a medical examination]. Nasha Niva (in Russian). 27 May 2021.
  44. ^ "Адвокат Инесса Оленская: Уже второй день я не могу встретиться с Романом Протасевичем — Беларусь на TJ" [Lawyer Inessa Olenskaya: It's the second day I can't meet with Roman Protasevich]. TJ (in Russian). 26 May 2021.
  45. ^ "Адваката Рамана Пратасевіча праз 4 дні пусцілі да падабароннага" [Raman Protasevich's lawyer was allowed to see his client 4 days later]. Наша Ніва (in Belarusian). 27 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  46. ^ Ullah, Zahra; Yahrova, Hanna (4 June 2021). "Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich appears on state TV as critics decry his detention as a 'hostage'-taking". CNN. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  47. ^ Tsvetkova, Maria (14 June 2021). "Jailed Belarus journalist Protasevich makes another public appearance". Reuters. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  48. ^ "Roman Protasevich: Belarus jet drama dissident moved to house arrest". BBC News. 25 June 2021.
  49. ^ "Belarus: Plane hijack journalist moved to house arrest". Deutsche Welle. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  50. ^ Vasilyeva, Nataliya (25 June 2021). "Belarus releases jailed journalist taken off Ryanair flight to house arrest". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  51. ^ ""Товарищ майор – этажом ниже". Протасевич появился в Twitter и записал видеообращение" ["Comrade Major is the floor below." Protasiewicz appeared on Twitter and recorded a video message]. gordonua.com. 7 July 2021.
  52. ^ Tétrault-Farber, Gabrielle (7 July 2021). "Belarusian dissident arrested in plane grounding appears to resurface online". Reuters. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  53. ^ Jump up to: a b c Rainsford, Sarah (27 May 2021). "Belarus: I'm ready to beg for help, says mother of detained woman". BBC News. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  54. ^ "Сапегу обвинили в разжигании социальной вражды и розни в Белоруссии" [Sapega accused of inciting social hatred and discord in Belarus]. РИА Новости (in Russian). 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  55. ^ Wesolowsky, Tony (9 June 2021). "Jailed Belarusian Pratasevich Dogged By Claims He Fought For Azov Battalion In Ukraine". rferl.org. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  56. ^ "Правда ли Роман Протасевич воевал в Донбассе в батальоне «Азов»? Подозрения есть, прямых доказательств нет" [Did Roman Protasevich really fight in the Azov battalion in Donbass? Suspicions, no direct evidence]. Meduza (in Russian). 27 May 2021.
  57. ^ "Протасевич працював журналістом на Донбасі – Білецький" [Protasevych worked as a journalist in Donbas – Biletsky]. Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 26 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  58. ^ Крамар, Остап (26 May 2021). "КГБ Беларуси заявил, что Протасевич воевал на Донбассе в составе "Азова". Билецкий говорит, что он был там как журналист" [The KGB of Belarus said that Protasevich fought in the Donbas as part of "Azov". Biletsky says he was there as a journalist]. hromadske.ua (in Ukrainian).
  59. ^ Lokhov, Pyotr (28 May 2021). "Journalist or soldier? Meduza dissects allegations that Roman Protasevich". Meduza. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  60. ^ "Бойовики "відкрили справу" проти Протасевича, звинувачують в особливо тяжких злочинах" [The militants "opened a case" against Protasevich, accusing him of particularly serious crimes]. Ukrayinska Pravda (in Ukrainian). 27 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  61. ^ Солонина, Євген; Комарова, Ольга; Демченко, Олександр (28 May 2021). "Протасевич і Донбас: чому Лукашенко намагається зв'язати ім'я журналіста з війною в Україні" [Protasevych and Donbass: why Lukashenko is trying to link the journalist's name to the war in Ukraine]. radiosvoboda.org (in Ukrainian). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  62. ^ "Lukashenko allows 'investigators from Donbas' to interrogate journalist Protasevich". UNIAN Information Agency. 2 June 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  63. ^ "Глава ЛНР рассказал о контактах с Белоруссией по делу Протасевича" [Head of LNR told about contacts with Belarus on Protasiewicz case]. ria.ru (in Russian). 9 June 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  64. ^ ""ЛНР" каже, що допитала Протасевича. Україна вимагає пояснень від Білорусі" [LNR says it interrogated Protasevich. Ukraine demands explanations from Belarus]. bbc.com (in Ukrainian). 16 June 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.

Further reading[]

Retrieved from ""