Roman Protasevich seen as a ‘personal enemy’ of the president: Opposition

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko sees exiled activist Roman Protasevich — who was arrested after a Ryanair flight he was on was diverted — as a “private enemy,” in response to a senior advisor to a Belarusian opposition chief.

That is as a result of Protasevich, a outstanding critic of the president, performed an “extraordinarily necessary function” in mobilizing folks to hitch avenue protests up to now 12 months, mentioned Franak Viacorka, who advises opposition chief Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

“He was writing tales, he was commenting on information and he was explaining (to) folks staple items — why they need to become involved in politics, why everybody should take part,” Viacorka informed CNBC’s Dan Murphy on Monday.

“That is why he turned the enemy, the private enemy for (President) Lukashenko,” he mentioned.

Belarusians took to the streets after a presidential election in August 2020 that the opposition and a few election employees say was rigged. Lukashenko, who has run the japanese European nation of roughly 9.4 million folks for over 1 / 4 of a century, has denied these accusations.

Viacorka mentioned Protasevich, 26, was all the time preventing for justice and was a logo of the younger individuals who need change within the nation.

Belarus on Sunday ordered its army to scramble a fighter jet to drive a Lithuania-bound Ryanair airplane to alter course and land in its capital metropolis, citing a possible safety menace on board. State media in Belarus mentioned Lukashenko had personally given the order.

Police arrested Protasevich when passengers disembarked in Minsk. His girlfriend Sofya Sapega, a 23-year-old Russian citizen learning on the European Humanities College in Lithuania, was additionally detained, in response to experiences.

Individuals are normally despatched for interrogations that might final for days after being detained, mentioned Viacorka.

“That is the harshest time,” he mentioned, including that authorities will attempt to get as a lot info as attainable from detainees.

“I am actually anxious about (Protasevich’s) security, about his well being and even about his life,” he mentioned.

Viacorka mentioned he believed Protasevich could possibly be within the custody of the KGB, referring to the Soviet-era identify of the Belarusian state safety company.

“In Belarus KGB, that is the place the place folks disappear. That is the place the place folks lose well being, and generally individuals are dying,” Viacorka mentioned.

“I hope he is wholesome and good, however I do know for certain that the KGB won’t let him go simply,” he mentioned.

On Tuesday, Viacorka posted a video of Protasevich on Twitter. He wrote that the clip — wherein Protasevich says he has been handled accurately and lawfully — is “terrifying” and that the journalist had “clearly” been overwhelmed.

The Belarusian overseas ministry was not instantly out there for remark when contacted by CNBC.

He additionally informed CNBC that Lukashenko’s actions, if confirmed, weren’t the signal of energy however “the signal of desperation, and the signal additionally that Lukashenko won’t keep in energy for lengthy.”

World leaders ought to take a harder place over the incident, Viacorka mentioned.

“We see how Belarus is reworking from an authoritarian state to North Korea, a North Korea within the heart of Europe,” he mentioned.

“This isn’t solely about home coverage, it is about European safety proper now … the EU, together with the U.S., Canada and the U.Ok. should take a powerful stance and should impose robust sanctions,” he added. Russia has defended Belarus and analysts say Moscow may gain advantage if Minsk’s ties with the West are strained additional.

Viacorka mentioned Belarus could possibly be a “success story” if Washington and Brussels work collectively and known as on European leaders to assist the nation.

“This isn’t solely (a) political disaster anymore, it is a humanitarian disaster proper now,” he mentioned.

Politicians all over the world have expressed outrage on the incident and pressed for the instant launch of Protasevich and Sapega.

The European Union has determined to ban Belarusian airways from European skies and informed EU airways to not fly over Belarus. The leaders of the 27 member states additionally promised to enact additional focused financial sanctions.

Belarus’ opposition is working with the U.Ok. and EU to develop a plan of financial assist, mentioned Viacorka. He mentioned it reveals Belarusians that Lukashenko shouldn’t be the one guarantor of stability and prosperity.

Native communities have additionally emerged and might help the nation construct “genuine, real democracy” sooner or later, he added.

Those that oppose Lukashenko’s regime want to remain optimistic and united on the “very lengthy path to freedom and democracy,” he mentioned.

“I used to be, many occasions, attacked throughout totally different rallies and protests however I have to say that we had been by no means so near victory as we’re proper now,” mentioned Viacorka.

He mentioned he’s “very hopeful” that political prisoners and people in exile will be capable of return house within the subsequent 12 months.

“We will likely be pondering, collectively, how one can construct Belarus — free, European, democratic, open to the world, with people who find themselves completely happy to stay on this nation,” he mentioned.