On July 21, 2021, a Belarusian court sentenced Russian journalist Roman Protasevich to three years in prison. Protasevich was arrested in May 2021 after his flight from Greece to Lithuania was diverted to Minsk, Belarus, on the orders of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. The journalist was accused of organizing mass unrest and inciting hatred against the government, charges that he denies.
Protasevich is a former editor of the opposition Telegram channel NEXTA, which played a key role in covering the protests that erupted in Belarus after the disputed presidential election in August 2020. The protests were met with a brutal crackdown by the government, with thousands of people arrested and many beaten or tortured. NEXTA provided a platform for protesters to share information and coordinate their actions, and its coverage was widely shared on social media.
The Belarusian government has been cracking down on independent media and opposition voices for years, but the situation has escalated since the 2020 election. Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994, claimed victory in the election with 80% of the vote, but the opposition and many international observers say the election was rigged. The protests that followed were met with violence from the police and security forces, and Lukashenko has refused to step down or hold new elections.
Protasevich’s arrest and sentencing have been widely condemned by human rights groups and governments around the world. The European Union and United States have imposed sanctions on Belarusian officials and entities in response to the crackdown on dissent, and there have been calls for further action.
The case has also raised concerns about the safety of journalists and the use of forced air travel by governments to detain individuals. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for an investigation into the incident, saying that it was a violation of international law.
In addition to Protasevich, his girlfriend Sofia Sapega, who was also on the flight, was arrested and remains in detention in Belarus. She is a Russian citizen and a student at a university in Lithuania.
The sentencing of Protasevich is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by journalists who report on authoritarian regimes and the importance of protecting press freedom. It is also a warning to those who speak out against oppressive governments that they may face severe consequences for their actions. As human rights activist Halya Coynash said, “This is not only about Roman Protasevich. This is about all of us.”
