During the interrogation, the detainee said that his detention in Minsk could be related to a personal conflict.
According to TASS, detained at the Minsk airport, one of the founders of the NEXTA Telegram channel recognized as extremist in Belarus, Roman Protasevich, suggested that his arrest may be related to a personal conflict with one of his associates.
“I had a personal conflict with only one person, quite tense”, – Protasevich said during the interrogation, a video clip of which was shown in the film “Flight “Athens – Vilnius”. Debriefing”, shown on Wednesday on the air of the ONT TV channel. Protasevich clarified that he announced his departure from Athens 40 minutes before takeoff in a working chat.
“There was this person in the chat, and such a situation happens,” Protasevich said.
He also said that when he got to the pre-trial detention center, he did not receive any information and thought that he was framed. The detainee expressed confidence that the person who could provoke the incident had connections with cyber partisans who had previously engaged in mass false ministries throughout Belarus.
The filmmakers claim that reports of Protasevich’s arrest at the Minsk airport appeared at a time when he was calmly going through border control and inspection. The publication about the arrest of Protasevich was the first to be made on social networks by Franak Vyachorka, adviser to ex-presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.
“We had good relations with Franak Vyachorka. I filmed Svetlana Tikhanovskaya’s visit to Athens. Everything was fine, we worked for two days. He praised me. He flew away, and in less than a week, the attitude towards me changed to the opposite. I talked with him, and he said: we need to consider the prospects for further cooperation”, – said Protasevich.
He also said that he had recently discussed options for the development of the protest movement in Belarus with representatives of the opposition.
“There is simply no activity now. Now it cannot be. Even at the time when I was in Vilnius, I spoke openly – now there is no need for street activity. At the very least, we need to wait for the situation in the economy to heat up so that people go out for a bowl of stew”, – Protasevich said.