Radio Free Europe
RFE/RL journalists report the news in 22 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia.
Pratasevich Says He Is No Longer Under House Arrest In Belarus.
Raman Pratasevich, a Belarusian journalist who was detained in Minsk last year after the commercial flight he was on was forced to land, says he is no longer under house arrest.
Pratasevich said in an interview on January 25 with the YouTube channel of Dzmitry Belyakou, director of the pro-government Systemic Rights Defense Center in Belarus, that he was allowed to leave the place where he had been staying.
Countries around the world have condemned Belarus's authoritarian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka for the "state hijacking" of the passenger aircraft to arrest Pratasevich and his Russian girlfriend, Sofia Sapega. The flight was en route to Vilnius from Athens on May 23 when it was forced to make an emergency landing in the Belarusian capital because of a bomb threat that several countries have called a hoax.
"I just left the place where I was under house arrest," Pratasevich said, adding that it has been difficult for him to socialize and adjust to life after seven months under house arrest.
Pratasevich did not say when exactly he had been released from house arrest, adding that he had no specific plans other that that he would work on media activities at the Systemic Rights Defense Center. He is also going to restart his Telegram channel Sprava, he said, as the investigation into his case continues.
Pratasevich faces charges in connection with civil disturbances that followed a disputed presidential election in August 2020, an offense punishable by up to 15 years in prison. He was a key administrator of the Telegram channel Nexta-Live, which covered the mass protests denouncing the official results of the August 2020 election.
After about a month in jail, Pratasevich and Sapega were moved from the separate prisons where they were being held to house arrest amid calls by the opposition and rights activists for their immediate release.
Before being transferred to house arrest, Pratasevich made several appearances on Belarusian state television that prompted the opposition and Western officials to accuse Lukashenka's regime of extracting video confessions under torture and call for his and his girlfriend's immediate release.
Belarusian prosecutors said last month that they had filed final charges against Sapega, adding that she was charged with inciting social hatred, damaging information security, mishandling private data, and threatening law enforcement.
If convicted, Sapega could face up to six years in prison.
Pratasevich did not talk about Sapega in his YouTube appearance on January 25.
In a report released on January 17, a fact-finding team set up by the UN's International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to probe the incident concluded that the bomb threat was "deliberately false."
The U.S. Justice Department then charged four Belarusian government officials with conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy in the forced landing of the flight.
In an indictment filed on January 20 in a New York federal court, prosecutors said the officials conspired to fake a bomb threat that forced the Ryanair flight to make an emergency landing in Minsk while the plane was flying over the country’s airspace.
The Belarusian military scrambled a MiG-29 fighter jet to ensure the crew complied with the orders of flight controllers, who the indictment says were under the control Belarusian security agents.
German DM Says Allies Will Deliver Three Patriot Systems To Ukraine.
Three more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, will be delivered to Ukraine by its Western allies, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced on May 9.
Zelenskiy Dismisses Head Of State Guards Amid Alleged Assassination Plot.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed the head of the state guards on May 9, two days after two of its members were accused of plotting to assassinate him.
Orban Meets With Xi, Calls China 'One Of The Pillars Of New World Order'.
China and Hungary will expand cooperation in several areas, including in the nuclear power industry, Hungarian Prime Minister Vitkor Orban announced in Budapest on May 9 after talks with visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Georgian Ambassador To France Quits In Protest Over 'Foreign Agent' Bill.
Georgia’s ambassador to France has resigned in protest against the so-called “foreign agent” bill, becoming the first senior official to do so amid ongoing demonstrations in the capital, Tbilisi.
Tens Of Thousands Rally In Yerevan, Demanding Pashinian Step Down Over Border Deal With Baku.
Tens of thousands of Armenians rallied in the center of Yerevan amid calls by an outspoken Armenian archbishop for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and his government to resign over a land deal with rival Azerbaijan.
Hallie Jackson NOW - May 7 - NBC News NOW
Stormy Daniels testifies against Trump in hush money trial, Trump classified documents trial in Florida indefinitely postponed, and tornadoes expected after deadly twister rips through Oklahoma. » Subscribe to NBC News: NBC News Digital is a colle...
Panera phases out charged lemonade drink nationwide.
Panera Bread is phasing out their controversial drink, Charged Lemonade. The highly caffeinated beverage was blamed for at least two deaths in lawsuits. » Subscribe to NBC News: NBC News Digital is a collection of innovative and powerful news bran...
Sean Hannity: This is disgraceful
WARNING: Graphic imagery—Fox News host Sean Hannity says Stormy Daniels took the stand to embarrass former President Trump on 'Hannity.' Subscribe to Fox News! Watch more Fox News Video: Watch Fox News Channel Live: FOX News Channel (FNC) is a 24-...
Trump trial - Day 13 recap
#StormyDaniels, the adult film star who says she had an affair with Donald #Trump, took the witness stand in the former president’s criminal trial. Vaughn Hillyard recaps what she said in court. #Shorts » Subscribe to NBC News: NBC News Digital is...
Despite slim prospects, US optimistic on Israel-Hamas cease-fire - VOANews.
The U.S. is expressing optimism that a cease-fire agreement in Gaza is within reach, a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected a proposed deal that Hamas said it had accepted. Patsy Widakuswara reports. » Subscribe to VOA News...
6th Baltimore bridge collapse victim recovered, TikTok sues U.
John Dickerson reports on the much anticipated testimony at the center of former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s ambitions as he begins another term, and the personal stories of migrant families wait...