The court also condemned two like-minded Belarusians. However, both abroad, they were sentenced in absentia.
A Belarusian court sentenced former Nexta editor Roman Protasevich in a case of alleged conspiracy to seize power for 8 years in a high-security colony. On Wednesday, May 3, the Russian edition reported Topicalpositioning itself as an opposition.
The trial of him and two of his associates began on February 16, 2023. Nexta founder Stepan Putil and former editor Yan Rudik were sentenced to 19 and 20 years in prison, respectively, but because they are in another country, the sentence is passed in absentia.
Protasevich said in the final word that he admitted his guilt and wanted to do “everything possible to repair the damage” his actions had caused.
He asked the court to consider his situation with understanding and make a fair decision on the punishment, which would not involve imprisonment.
Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapieha were detained in May 2021 as a result of the forced landing of a Ryanair plane in Minsk.
Recall that Roman Protasevich in August 2021 announced his participation in the “attempted coup” in Belarus.
Earlier, in June of the same year, he said he was in good health, had no agreement with the investigation, and was willing to cooperate.
Source: korrespondent
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