Raman Pratasevich

Affiliated media: Telegram channel NEXTA, Former editor-in-chief

Incident date: May 23, 2021

Attack type:

• Administrative arrest, remand, pre-trial detention, prison

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Belarusian Association of Journalists

Location: Belarus, Minsk

Additional information:

Former editor of the Telegram channel NEXTA Raman Pratasevich was detained at the airport of Minsk. He was on board the plane, flying on the Athens-Vilnius route. During the flight over Belarus, the plane suddenly gave a distress signal, changed course and landed in Minsk. The reason for the emergency landing was a bomb signal. The plane was checked, no bombs were found, all passengers were sent for a second inspection. Pratasevich was among them — he was detained. Pratasevich is an editor of Telegram channels recognised as extremist in Belarus. He was included by the Belarusian authorities in the list of terrorists and put on the interstate wanted list. In November 2020, the Investigative Committee of Belarus charged Pratasevich under three articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Belarus: organisation of mass riots (Article 293), gross violation of public order (Article 342), and incitement of social discord (Part 3 of Article 130).