IFJ 25 May 2021
Belarus: an act of state terrorism to arrest a journalist
On 23 May, the Belarusian authorities forced a civilian plane to perform an emergency landing in Minsk, Belarus capital and arrested Belarussian blogger Raman Pratasevich. The International and European Federation of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) have condemned what they call an act of air piracy and state terrorism . They demand his immediate release and those of 28 journalists and media actors currently detained in Belarus. Screenshot video Raman Pratasevich
Raman Pratasevich, 26, is a blogger and former editor of the popular opposition Telegram channel NEXTA and editor-in-chief of Belarus of the Brain, another Telegram channel. Both have covered protests against Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko s disputed election in August 2020. Pratasevich had fled Belarus in 2019, fearing prosecution and currently lives in Vilnius, Lithuania.