Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko sees banished activist Roman Protasevich — who was apprehended after a Ryanair flight he was on was diverted — as a “personal enemy,” according to a senior consultant to a Belarusian opposition leader.
That’s since Protasevich, a popular critic of the president, played an “extremely important role” in activating individuals to sign up with street demonstrations in the previous year, stated Franak Viacorka, who encourages opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.
“He was writing stories, he was commenting on news and he was explaining (to) people basic things — why they should get involved in politics, why everyone must participate,” Viacorka informed CNBC’s Dan Murphy on Monday.
“This is why he became the enemy, the personal enemy for (President) Lukashenko,” he stated.
Belarusians required to the streets after a governmental election in August 2020 that the opposition and some election employees state was rigged. Lukashenko, who has actually run the eastern European nation of approximately 9.4 million individuals for over a quarter of a century, has actually rejected these allegations.
Viacorka stated Protasevich, 26, was constantly defending justice and was a sign of the youths who desire modification in the nation.
‘Harshest time’
Belarus on Sunday purchased its military to rush a fighter jet to require a Lithuania-bound Ryanair aircraft to alter course and land in its capital city, pointing out a prospective security risk on board. State media in Belarus stated Lukashenko had actually personally provided the order.
Police apprehended Protasevich when travelers disembarked in Minsk. His sweetheart Sofya Sapega, a 23-year-old Russian resident studying at the European Humanities University in Lithuania, was likewise apprehended, according to reports.
People are generally sent out for interrogations that might last for days after being apprehended, stated Viacorka.
“This is the harshest time,” he stated, including that authorities will attempt to get as much details as possible from detainees.
“I’m really worried about (Protasevich’s) safety, about his health and even about his life,” he stated.
Belarusian authorities required a Ryanair aircraft flying from Greece to Lithuania to land in Minsk. Oppositionist Roman Protasewicz, who was on board, was apprehended.
Artur Widak | NurPhoto | Getty Images
Viacorka stated he thought Protasevich might be in the custody of the KGB, describing the Soviet-age name of the Belarusian state security firm.
“In Belarus KGB, this is the place where people disappear. This is the place where people lose health, and sometimes people are dying,” Viacorka stated.
“I hope he’s healthy and good, but I know for sure that the KGB will not let him go easily,” he stated.
On Tuesday, Viacorka published a video of Protasevich on Twitter. He composed that the clip — in which Protasevich states he has actually been dealt with properly and legally — is “terrifying” which the reporter had “obviously” been beaten.
The Belarusian foreign ministry was not right away offered for remark when gotten in touch with by CNBC.
He likewise informed CNBC that Lukashenko’s actions, if verified, were not the indication of power however “the sign of desperation, and the sign also that Lukashenko will not stay in power for long.”
‘Humanitarian crisis’
World leaders must take a harder position over the event, Viacorka stated.
“We see how Belarus is transforming from an authoritarian state to North Korea, a North Korea in the center of Europe,” he stated.
“This is not only about domestic policy, it’s about European security right now … the EU, along with the U.S., Canada and the U.K. must take a strong stance and must impose strong sanctions,” he included. Russia has actually protected Belarus and experts state Moscow might benefit if Minsk’s ties with the West are strained even more.
Viacorka stated Belarus might be a “success story” if Washington and Brussels collaborate and contacted European leaders to assist the nation.
I was, often times, assaulted throughout various rallies and demonstrations however I need to state that we were never ever so near success as we are right now.
Franak Viacorka
Senior Advisor to opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
“This is not only (a) political crisis anymore, this is a humanitarian crisis right now,” he stated.
Politicians around the globe have actually revealed outrage at the event and pushed for the instant release of Protasevich and Sapega.
The European Union has actually chosen to restriction Belarusian airline companies from European skies and informed EU airline companies not to fly over Belarus. The leaders of the 27 member states likewise assured to enact additional targeted financial sanctions.
What next?
Belarus’ opposition is dealing with the U.K. and EU to establish a strategy of financial assistance, stated Viacorka. He stated it reveals Belarusians that Lukashenko is not the only guarantor of stability and success.
Local neighborhoods have actually likewise emerged and can assist the nation construct “authentic, genuine democracy” in the future, he included.
Those who oppose Lukashenko’s program requirement to remain positive and unified on the “very long path to freedom and democracy,” he stated.
“I was, many times, attacked during different rallies and protests but I must say that we were never so close to victory as we are right now,” stated Viacorka.
He stated he is “very hopeful” that political detainees and those in exile will have the ability to return house in the next year.
“We will be thinking, together, how to build Belarus — free, European, democratic, open to the world, with people who are happy to live in this country,” he stated.
