Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich appears on TV again
June 4, 2021, 4:41 am

Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich appears on TV again

Roman the Belarus journalist

On Thursday evening, an official Belarus channel broadcasted a television interview with the Belarusian journalist and opposition activist Roman Protasevich, who was arrested after his plane was intercepted and diverted to Minsk. Human rights activists considered this interview was conducted under pressure. Roman Protasevich

Protasevich, founder of the Telegram channel "Nexta", that was a key information conduit for opponents of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, said in the interview, in which he seemed uncomfortable, to call for protests last year, then praised Lukashenko.

The broadcast was the second appearance in two days by 26-year-old Roman Protasevich, whose arrest on May 23 was denounced in the West. By showing him on TV as cowed and repentant, Belarus could aim to counter that criticism.

At the end of the 90-minute interview, in which Protasevich sat on a stark black set, he said, “I am cooperating absolutely fully and openly ... and live an ordinary, calm life, have a family, children, stop running away from something.”

He then covered his face with his hands and wept. Roman Protasevich

Source: AP

Image Source: ONT channel VIA AP

levant

Bogdanov : Early elections may be held in Syria The 74th Cannes Film Festival of this year runs from July 6 to 17

BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”