Belarus pardons activist Protasevich after forced plane landing.

Belarusian opposition blogger Roman Protasevich, who was sentenced to eight years in prison for organising protests and insulting President Alexander Lukashenko, has been pardoned. Protasevich was arrested in 2021 after his flight was grounded in Minsk. The 28-year-old worked for the news agency, Nexta, which reported on the mass protests that followed Lukashenko’s re-election in 2020. His arrest prompted international anger and triggered European sanctions against Lukashenko. Protasevich thanked the country and the president personally for the decision. Meanwhile, rumours about Lukashenko’s health have spread over the past few weeks.