The Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich has been pardoned, the Belarusian state news agency BELTA reports. Protasevich was arrested a year and a half ago when his Ryanair plane was forced to land in Belarus due to a fake bomb threat. It is not clear why Protasevich has been pardoned and whether he will be released immediately. Three weeks ago he was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the mass protests in 2020.

According to BELTA, Protasevich would have told journalists himself. "I have just signed all relevant documents for the pardon. This is of course fantastic news."

"Protasevich had previously confessed to his crimes, but it is internationally accepted that this happened under great pressure from the Belarusian authorities. He was also charged with incitement to hatred, insulting the president and involvement in violent protests.

The 27-year-old Protasevich was on trial together with two other founders of the opposition channel Nexta, a terrorist organization according to the regime. In 2020, protesters used that platform on Telegram to mobilize large groups of people to protest against the regime of President Aleksandr Lukashenko. They also received long prison sentences. It is not known whether they have also been pardoned.

Protasevich had fled his country and flew from Greece to Lithuania in May 2021. The Ryanair plane he was flying on was suddenly escorted by a fighter jet and had to land in Belarus because a bomb was said to be present on the plane. Protasevich was arrested immediately after the plane was put on the ground. No bomb was found on board.

The action sparked international anger, but Minsk has always denied being behind the bomb threat. The United Nations aviation agency concluded that Belarus was indeed responsible for this.

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* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)