In the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, a criminal case was opened against the former editor-in-chief of the Nexta Telegram channel Roman Protasevich, who was detained in Belarus.

This is stated in a message published on the website of the LPR General Prosecutor's Office.

Law enforcers found that in the summer of 2014, Protasevich voluntarily joined the Ukrainian battalion "Azov", which is recognized as a terrorist organization in the LPR.

Until the winter of 2015, he participated in battles in the territory of Donbass as deputy commander of communications of the second shock and assault company of the Azov battalion, the department noted.

“So, Protasevich Roman Dmitrievich, using heavy weapons (MT-12 cannons, D-30 howitzers, mortars, anti-aircraft guns), committed a number of especially grave crimes, expressed in shelling of settlements of the Donetsk People's Republic, which resulted in the death and injury of civilians , destruction and damage of civil infrastructure, ”the LPR prosecutor's office said.

In addition to participating in a terrorist organization, Protasevich is suspected of using military means and methods prohibited by international treaties, weapons of mass destruction, as well as committing genocide.

Riot organizer and coordinator

On May 26, the head of the KGB of Belarus Ivan Tertel announced that Protasevich fought in the Donbass on the side of Ukraine.

“It is undeniable that this person fully complies with the definition of a terrorist, a fighter-mercenary, a participant in bloody events (as part of the infamous Azov battalion) associated with the atrocities and deaths of civilians in southeastern Ukraine,” he said in an interview with journalists.

"This is not only our data and data from the investigation, but also the facts presented in the media, with personal confessions of Protasevich."

In addition, as Tertel said, Protasevich told the investigation which politicians, organizations and special services are sponsoring subversive activities against the Belarusian authorities.

Protasevich himself "actively applied the experience gained in Ukraine" in relation to Belarus, the head of the KGB claims.

"(Protasevich. -

RT

) was the organizer and coordinator of the riots that endangered the life and health of ordinary citizens and law enforcement officers," Tertel said.

Earlier, the leader of the Ukrainian party "National Corps" Andriy Biletsky said that Protasevich really was in Donbass, but as a journalist.

“Yes, Roman really, together with Azov and other military units, fought against the occupation of Ukraine.

He was with us in Shirokino, where he was wounded.

But his weapon as a journalist was not a machine gun, but a word, ”Biletsky said.

The media reported that Protasevich left for Ukraine in 2014, where he met with an active participant in the "Maidan" Igor Guz.

Allegedly, at his suggestion, the man voluntarily joined Azov and underwent special training.

Protasevich himself claimed that he worked in the Donbass in the war zone as a journalist.

The network also published photos in which a young man, outwardly similar to Protasevich, stands in a military uniform with an Azov patch and a weapon in his hands.

According to the KGB of Belarus, these photos were found during a search on the phone of Protasevich himself.

No flying 

26-year-old Roman Protasevich, among other passengers, flew on a Ryanair plane from Athens to Vilnius on May 23.

The liner urgently sat down at the Minsk airport due to a message about a bomb on board.

Subsequently, it turned out that the information was false.

Protasevich was removed from the flight, detained, and then arrested.

The Belarusian authorities accuse him of organizing protests and riots.

He faces up to 15 years in prison.

As a reminder, the NEXTA Telegram channel, which was edited by a journalist, was recognized by the Belarusian authorities as extremist. 

Together with Protasevich, 23-year-old Russian citizen Sofia Sapega was detained, with whom they were on vacation in Greece.

She was arrested for two months.

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, no charges have been brought against Sapega so far.

After the arrest of Protasevich and Sapieha, a number of EU countries closed their airspace for Belarusian aircraft and recommended their airlines not to fly over Belarus.

On May 27, the Ukrainian authorities also announced the termination of flights with the neighboring country.

On May 27, the Belavia plane, en route from Minsk to Barcelona, ​​was unable to enter Polish airspace due to the fact that France at the last moment canceled the agreed flight plan.

As follows from the data of the Flightradar24 website, the board made several circles in the sky over the Brest region bordering Poland, after which it returned to the airport.

In Belarus, the incident was called a violation of international law.

In turn, the Russian side did not allow the Austrian airline Austrian Airlines to make a flight from Vienna to Moscow on an alternative route that did not pass through the airspace of Belarus.

The company canceled the flight, a representative of the Austrian air carrier told TASS.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier called on European countries to stop demonizing the Belarusian authorities. 

“The Belarusian authorities clearly said from the very first minutes after this incident about their readiness for transparency, for an open investigation, to receive relevant experts, to provide all information and necessary materials,” the Russian politician added.