Roman Protaševič

Roman Protaševič is a Belarusian journalist and opposition activist known for his role in covering the protests against the government of Alexander Lukashenko following the disputed 2020 presidential elections in Belarus. He gained international attention when he was detained after the forced landing of a Ryanair flight in May 2021, which was criticized as a violation of aviation safety and an act of state-sponsored hijacking. His arrest and the circumstances surrounding it sparked widespread condemnation and led to increased sanctions against Belarusian officials and entities.