Roman Protasevich, co-founder of the news channel Nexta, was arrested two years ago when the plane he was travelling on was forced down by fighter jets. He was charged with sedition and attempted to overthrow the dictator Lukashenko.
Erik Halkjær, chairman of Swedish Reporters Without Borders, is not surprised by the verdict. "It is a completely reprehensible verdict, he should be released. Like so many other journalists in Belarus," he says. About 30 journalists are in prison in Belarus.