Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich, who was arrested in Minsk after being arrested on a diverted flight last month, appeared in a tearful interview on state television.
In the interview, he confessed to organizing anti-government protests and praised President Alexander Lukashenko. Protasevich’s family says that the interview took place under duress and pressure, writes BBC.
The journalist, 26, was the editor of the opposition channel Nexta in the Telegram messaging app until last year. He was placed on a list of “individuals involved in terrorist activities” last year.
Mass protests erupted across Belarus after longtime President Alexander Lukashenko claimed victory in the August 9 presidential election, widely described as rigged, and a crackdown on the opposition ensued. The protests were suppressed and opposition leaders were sent to prison or exile.
What did Roman Protasevich say during the interview?
In the interview broadcast Thursday evening, Mr Protasevich acknowledged the attempt to oust Alexander Lukashenko and said he was speaking to the election television channel. He said he had criticized President Lukashenko a lot but “began to realize that he was doing the right thing and I certainly respect him.”
At the end of the interview, he burst into tears and said he hoped one day to get married and have children. The journalist’s father told the AFP news agency that it was painful to look at his son, giving him the interview.
“I know my son very well and I believe he would never say such things. “They forced him to say what they wanted,” he said. Thursday’s interview was Protasevich’s third appearance on state television since his arrest. In an interview, he said there was no benefit from the opposition calling for further street protests.
