BBC journalists walk out of press conference in Belarus after detained blogger brought out

Two BBC correspondents walked out of a Belarusian press conference Monday after officials produced detained journalist Roman Protasevich to discuss last month’s forced landing of the commercial airliner he was on.

“We have just walked out,” tweeted BBC Ukrainian correspondent Jonah Fisher. “Not taking part when he is clearly there under duress.”

We have just walked out. Not taking part when he is clearly there under duress. https://t.co/vg4gSGZJeL

— Jonah Fisher (@JonahFisherBBC) June 14, 2021

“We have walked out from the presser,” confirmed video journalist Abdujalil A.

We have walked out from the presser. The guy is clearly under duress. https://t.co/X5AYqWgsZo

— Abdujalil A (@abdujalil) June 14, 2021

Protasevich, 26, co-founded and served as editor of the Telegram channel “The NEXTA,” which is used by critics of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to manage demonstrations and share information.

He was flying from Greece to Lithuania on May 23 when a Belarusian fighter jet forced his Ryanair flight, which had about 170 passengers on board, to land in the capital of Minsk. Protasevich was then detained.

Since then, Belarusian officials have held press conferences featuring Protasevich recanting past criticisms of Lukashenko and praising the authoritarian leader.

The blogger’s father and others have said that he has clearly been mistreated and coerced into making those statements.

Journalists at Monday’s press conference were there to get more information on the diversion of the airliner Protasevich was on and were surprised when Belarusian officials brought him out.

Wow. The Belarusian authorities have brought x- @nexta_tv blogger Roman Protasevich from his KGB prison cell to their press briefing about the forced diversion of his @Ryanair flight – that prompted international condemnation & sanctions. @JonahFisherBBC & @abdujalil are there https://t.co/QXXdIH5kWW

— Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) June 14, 2021

After the plane was forced down, President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and political leaders around the world condemned the action. Blinken called it a “shocking act” that endangered the lives of Americans and all the airliner’s passengers.

The Biden administration and the European Union both plan to sanction Belarus over the move.