ARCHIVE – Blogger Roman Protassevich during his interview with Belarusian journalist Marat Markau. Photo: -/ONT Channel/AP/dpa/Archive image
Keystone
The blogger Roman Protassevich, long recognized by the Belarusian opposition as a politically persecuted person, has been working as a spy for his country for years, according to ruler Alexander Lukashenko. “I’m not going to say much. Protasevich is an employee of our foreign intelligence service,” said Lukashenko during a public appearance shown by state media. He was not an opposition activist, but someone who had gathered information abroad – most recently in Greece.
The blogger and co-founder of the opposition Telegram channel “Nexta” was long regarded as a symbol of resistance against Lukashenko. When a plane with him on board was forced to land in Minsk in 2021, his arrest made headlines around the world. Sanctions were imposed on Belarus. It was unclear whether Protassevich, as an alleged KGB agent, had deliberately collected information about the opposition in exile. “Nexta” described Lukashenko’s statements as “nonsense”.
Protassevich confirms work for the secret service
Nevertheless, Protassevich, who was supported by his parents in exile in Poland and prominent Belarusian government opponents, confirmed Lukashenko’s statements to the opposition medium “Serkalo”, which works abroad, and the Russian state news agency Tass. “Yes, I can confirm this information, but at the moment that’s all I can say,” he said.
Protashevich was sentenced to eight years in prison in May 2023, but was released in the same month following a pardon by Lukashenko. After Protassevich’s arrest, opposition activists had expressed the suspicion that his personality could have been broken by torture in custody. State television once showed him in tears.
Lukashenko’s surprising statements could be linked to the fact that Belarus is also negotiating an end to sanctions with the USA. The ruler recently released dozens of political prisoners.
Investigations in Poland Investigators evaluated flight data
In May 2021, the Belarusian authorities forced a Ryanair passenger plane on its way from Athens to Vilnius to make a stopover in Minsk with a fighter jet. The landing was justified with a bomb threat. As the aircraft is registered in Poland, the public prosecutor’s office in Warsaw opened an investigation into the case.
The suspects were the former director of the Belarusian air traffic control authority, the head of the air traffic control center in Minsk and the head of the Belarusian secret service KGB. They are said to have given false information about an alleged explosive charge on board when taking control of the plane and then forced the pilots to make an emergency landing. The plane was carrying a total of 132 passengers.