Roman Protasevich Belarusian journalist, blogger and political activist Date of Birth: 05.05.1995 Country: Belarus

1. Birth and Early Life
2. Early Political Activism and Exclusion
3. Journalism and Conflict
4. Return to Belarus and Journalism
5. NEXTA and Political Coordination
6. Exile and Arrest
7. Imprisonment and Prosecution

Birth and Early Life

Roman Protasevich was born on May 5, 1995, in Minsk, Belarus. His father, Dmitry Ivanovich Protasevich, was a Lieutenant Colonel in the military who was stripped of his rank by presidential decree in 2021. His mother, Natalya Petrovna Protasevich, worked as a librarian or mathematics teacher at the same military academy where his father taught.

Early Political Activism and Exclusion

Protasevich began participating in opposition protests in the early 2010s. In 2011, he was detained and expelled from the Belarusian National Technical University (BNTU) for taking part in "silent" protests. He continued his studies at Minsk High School #94. According to his parents, Protasevich voluntarily withdrew from BNTU before being expelled. From 2011 onward, he was a member of the youth opposition group Young Front.

Journalism and Conflict

Protasevich attended the Faculty of Journalism at Belarusian State University but was soon expelled. He traveled to the Donbas region of Ukraine, claiming to have worked as a journalist covering the armed conflict from the Ukrainian side. Protasevich's presence as a journalist with both the Ukrainian military and the neo-Nazi Azov Regiment was confirmed by the latter's commander, Andriy Biletsky.

Return to Belarus and Journalism

Protasevich returned to Belarus and worked as a journalist for several outlets, including Radio Svaboda and EuroRadio. He specialized in photojournalism and covered political events, including a meeting between Sebastian Kurz and Sergei Rumas in 2019.

NEXTA and Political Coordination

In late 2019, Protasevich joined the Telegram channel NEXTA, which he led alongside its creator, Stepan Putilo. During the 2020 presidential elections, NEXTA became a major source of information amid widespread internet outages. Protasevich and Putilo were accused of organizing mass riots and inciting social hatred, and in November 2020, they were labeled as terrorists by the KGB of Belarus.

Exile and Arrest

Protasevich fled to Poland in December 2019 and applied for asylum citing persecution by Belarusian authorities. On May 23, 2021, he was detained after his Ryanair flight from Athens to Vilnius was forced to land in Minsk following a false report of a bomb threat. His girlfriend, Sofia Sapega, was also detained.

Imprisonment and Prosecution

Protasevich initially appeared in a video confession, raising concerns about his treatment in custody. He has since been recognized as a political prisoner by several human rights organizations. His father has accused the Belarusian authorities of using psychological and physical pressure, including breaking his nose. Protasevich's lawyer has been denied access to him, and his whereabouts remain unknown.