Roman Protasevici

Roman Protasevici is a Belarusian journalist and former editor of the opposition news site Nexta, known for his extensive coverage of the mass anti-government protests that erupted in Belarus following the disputed presidential elections in 2020. He gained international attention after his arrest in May 2021 when a Ryanair flight was diverted to Minsk, where he was detained alongside his girlfriend, Sofia Sapega. His arrest prompted widespread condemnation and sanctions against Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukašhenko. Protasevici was later shown on state television appearing to confess to charges related to organizing protests, claims that were widely regarded as being made under duress. In 2023, he was pardoned by Lukašhenko and subsequently took a job as a welder in Belarus.