Belarusian authorities denounce detained journalist Roman Protasevich to the press

Belarusian authorities presented the jailed journalist on Monday Roman Protasevich during a press conference noted by the opposition of “Kafkaesque scene” performed under pressure.

Despite the fear that many fear that he will be subjected to ill-treatment and torture, Protasevich once again said he was doing well at a press conference in Minsk, the Belarusian capital. “No one hit or touch me”, said the 26-year-old.

Protasevich also addressed his parents at an event hosted by the Foreign Ministry: “Mum, dad, don’t worry, everything is fine.” The blogger also indicated that although “Do not support President Alexander Lukashenko respect him as a person.”

The opponent is the former editor of the newspaper Nexta, who played a key role in history interpellation against the re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in 2020.

Since his arrest, Roman Protasevich He has already appeared in two videos where he admitted to the crimes he is accused of, especially an interview on a public network. Each time, the opposition denounced puts under pressure, a practice long used by the Lukashenko regime.

“No matter what he says let’s not forget he’s a hostage. And the regime uses it as a trophy ”, reacted on Twitter Franc Viachorka, adviser to the leader of the opposition in exile, Svetlana Tijanovskaya. “This is not a press conference but a scene from (Franz) Kafka or (George) Orwell», Adds Viačorka.

At the conference, two senior Belarusian officials they reiterated the Minsk version of the flight diversion, ensure that they received a threat, which was later found to be false, from the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas that there was a bomb on board.

Several Western officials, in particular the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, they considered that these explanations were not credible and that it was a subterfuge to force the plane to descend and stop the opponent.

For his part, the Russian president, Vladimir Poutine, indicated that it was the pilot of the Ryanair plane who had decided to land in Minsk. “The pilot made the decision to land in Minsk. That’s all. Why shouldn’t I ask you? They all accuse Lukashenko, but the pilot was not questioned “, he said.

Protasévich’s arrest took place alongside that of his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, who was also flying on the Ryanair plane that was due to land on a trip from Athens to Vilnius three weeks ago.

That same Monday, Minsk court dismissed Spaega’s complaint against his detention, as confirmed by the Russian news agency TASS. However, their lawyers assured that they would appeal the court ruling.

“The Partizanski District Court in Minsk examined Sofia Sapega’s complaint (…) behind closed doors. The court decided not to pursue the complaint“Said Judge Natalia Dedkova.

Meanwhile, the head of the Belarusian commission of inquiry, Dimitri Gora, said that Sapega, who is in detention, is accused of “inciting discord”.

(With information from Europa Press Yes AFP)

KEEP READING: