Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich was kidnapped by the authorities yesterday, after his Ryanair flight was forcibly detained in Minsk. We now know that KGB operatives boarded the plane and initiated a fight with the crew, forcing this landing. The pretext was a “bomb threat”.
Above are the reported pleas of Protasevich to a Ryanair flight attendant. We now know that Protasevich has been accused of inciting riots and hatred. The Belarusian government wants to apply the death penalty against him.
This is an act of terror coordinated by false President Alexander Lukashenko. Ever since August 2020, he has increased his campaign of persecution against journalists and his political opponents. The fact that he felt free to divert an international airline shows his audacity.
If European nations do not apply crushing sanctions against Lukashenko’s regime now, then we cannot claim to believe in freedom of speech or freedom of the press.
FREE ROMAN PROTASEVICH.
