'THEY'LL KILL HIM'
Mum of Belarus journalist Roman Protasevich says ‘I’m begging the whole world to save him’ after Ryanair hijacking
THE mum of Belarus journalist Roman Protasevich has said she is "begging the whole world to save him" after he was abducted from a Ryanair flight over the weekend.
Natalia Protasevich, whose 26-year-old son was arrested in Minsk on Sunday, said authorities are "going to kill him" unless world leaders help get him released.
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She and her husband Dzmitry Protasevich said during an interview in Poland they saw clear signs that their son had been beaten in the first footage seen of him since he was detained.
Mr Protasevich, 48, said his son had been "forced" to film the video confession which was released on state TV late Monday and appeared to have a broken nose and missing teeth.
Meanwhile, his wife broke down in tears, saying: "I'm asking, I'm begging, I'm calling on the whole international community to save him."
The terrified mum said she has not slept for two nights and grips her phone tightly, hoping to hear news from her son.
"He's only one journalist, he's only one child but please, please. I'm begging for help.
"Please save him. They're going to kill him in there."
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Dmitry, a former soldier, said his son looked extremely nervous during his appearance on TV, appeared to be missing some teeth and had bruises on the left side of his face and on his neck.
"The video was clearly staged," he said. "It was done under pressure and it should not be believed."
But, he added, "at least it shows he is alive".
Natalia, 46, and Dmitry say the uncertainty surrounding their son is torturing them.
"The lawyer tried to see him today but she was turned down, she could not see him," Dmitry explained.
"We still don't know if he is in there, what his condition is, how he is feeling."
It comes after Grant Shapps confirmed Belurusian airlines will be banned from entering UK airspace unless specifically authorised.
The Transport Secretary said on Twitter: "Following yesterday's removal of permission for Belavia to operate to/from the UK, I'm now taking further action.
"With immediate effect, Belarusian airlines will be prevented from entering UK airspace unless specifically authorised."
Dmitry welcomed action taken by EU leaders at a summit this week, saying that it would "help radically change the situation".
"I think it will help free my son," he said.
A plane carrying about 170 people from 12 countries - including reporter Roman Protasevich - was forced to land so that armed guards could arrest him.
Ryanair Flight 4978 had already begun its descent into the Lithuanian capital on May 23, 2021, when the pilot suddenly announced that the plane would be diverting to Minsk, capital of neighbouring Belarus.
Belarusian authorities had deliberately diverted the flight as it passed over the country because of a suspected bomb alert, state news agency BelTA said. That alert later turned out to be false.
The European Union called for Protasevich's immediate release, with the head of the EU's executive European Commission and the Polish Prime minister describing the incident as a hijacking.
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Protasevich is being held over his involvement in protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko last year.
The 26-year-old worked for Poland-based online news service NEXTA, which broadcast footage of the demonstrations, sparked by huge anger over what the opposition said was a rigged presidential election - something Lukashenko denied.
The channel's shocking footage showed extreme police brutally cracking down on demonstrators after the disputed August 9, 2020, election.
NEXTA used the Telegram messenger app to broadcast at a time when it was hard for foreign media to report first-hand from the former Soviet state.
He faces extremism charges in Belarus, including organising mass riots and inciting social hatred.
Last August, freed detainees who were arrested for protesting against Lukashenko gave details of beatings during days in custody, with Amnesty International calling it "widespread torture".
on victims' claims of electric shocks and in one case, rape, in Lukashenko's torture chambers.
The prisoners had serious injuries including broken bones, skin wounds, cracked teeth, electrical burns and mild traumatic brain injuries.
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Protasevich said on state TV on Monday he is in good health and acknowledged having played a role in organising mass disturbances last year.
"I am in Detention Centre No1 in Minsk. I can say that I have no health problems, including with my heart or any other organs," he said.
"The attitude of employees towards me is as correct as possible and according to the law.
"I continue cooperating with investigators and am confessing to having organised mass unrest in the city of Minsk."
Protasevich told fellow passengers on the diverted flight that he was "facing the death penalty".
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But Protasevich's girlfriend is now facing horrific torture in a Belarus dungeon in a bid to 'break' him, her terrified family say.
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