Fate of Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich

Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich has made headlines across the world for the dramatic manner in which he was detained by authorities there.

His mother has now appealed to the international community for help.

She said, ” (I appeal to the) whole world and all governments” to “hear the scream of my heart, see the tears of the mother, and help him”.

Earlier, the G7 issued a statement. We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union condemn in the strongest terms the unprecedented action by the Belarusian authorities in arresting independent journalist, Raman Pratasevich and his companion, Sofia Sopega, after forcing flight FR4978 on which they were travelling to land in Minsk on 23 May.”

Reporters without Borders (RSF) has held a protest last week against the way journalists are treated in Belarus.

Belarus had last week, forced a Ryanair plane flying from Athens to Vilnius to land in Belarus. Roman and his girlfriend were on board the aircraft.  Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has told media that Roman was planning a rebellion. He also attacked the west for a “hybrid war” against his country.

RSF Secretary General Christophe Deloire said Behind this fence is Belarus, the country with a government that is locking up a generation of journalists who are little more than 20 years old,” Deloire said. “Journalists are not terrorists, although Alexander Lukashenko has used this term to refer to Raman Pratasevich. On the contrary, the terrorist is the person who puts journalists in prison and uses his crimes of violence to intimidate the public. And this is exactly what Alexander Lukashenko does.”

The post Fate of Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich appeared first on Hot Off The Press.