Subscribe Sign In

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/belarusian-dissident-who-was-removed-from-diverted-ryanair-flight-is-pardoned-f144063b

Belarusian Dissident Who Was Removed From Diverted Ryanair Flight Is Pardoned

A court earlier this month sentenced Roman Protasevich to eight years in a penal colony

By Georgi Kantchev

Updated May 22, 2023 10:33 am ET

Belarus authorities arrested opposition activist Roman Protasevich on board a Ryanair plane, which had been flying from Greece to Lithuania, after diverting the aircraft to Minsk. Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary called the incident “a case of state-sponsored hijacking,” further raising the global aviation industry’s alarm over the diversion. Photo: AFP/Getty Images

Weeks after being sentenced to eight years in a penal colony, a Belarusian opposition activist who was arrested after the government forced his Ryanair flight to land has been pardoned, according to state media.

Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8

Continue reading your article with
a WSJ subscription

Already a subscriber? Sign In

Sponsored Offers

TurboTax:
Save up to $15 with TurboTax coupon May 2023
The Motley Fool:
Epic Bundle - 3x Expert Stock Recommendations
H&R Block Tax:
15% Off DIY Online Tax Filing Services | H&R Block Coupon Code
Top Resume:
10% TopResume Discount Code for expert resume-writing services
eBay:
30% off eBay coupon
Groupon:
Exclusive: 30% OFF Groupon Promo Code