Roman Protasevich gave an interview during a briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus

The Belarusian Foreign Ministry held a press conference on the forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft, in which Roman Protasevich, who is in custody, took part.

As notes the BBC , Protasevich's participation came as a surprise to all journalists. The organizers put up a sign with his name right before the start of the event. Foreign Ministry spokesman Anatoly Glaz said that the changes in the composition of the participants were made "at the last moment" when the organizers "learned about Roman's desire to talk to the media."

As a result, most of the journalists' questions were addressed specifically to the former editor-in-chief of the Nexta Telegram channel.

Protasevich said that he “feels great,” and the marks on his hands, which drew attention during his interview on the state channel ONT, appeared from the screeds during the arrest. He addressed the parents, urging them not to worry, and also added that they could return home safely. Protasevich's parents are in Poland.

When asked if the journalist was offered freedom in exchange for cooperation, Protasevich replied: “I didn’t have any bargaining with the investigation, any participation in the events is voluntary. Like an interview with Markov.

“You know, my conscience is absolutely clear. I don't betray anyone, I don't betray anyone. I cooperate with the investigation, I help my country and I intend to help further,” Protasevich said.

He also said that he is aware of the damage that "has caused not only to the state, but also to the country," and therefore wants to do everything possible to "correct the situation."

Protasevich said he never received "big money" and "never pursued any political interests of any country."

Speaking about the reasons for leaving Nexta, the blogger said that he was afraid that the project would “become more yellow”, “become involved in political games” and begin to lose its audience.

“You know, I’ll be honest, for the first time, the first couple of months, I really saw around me a lot of people like me, who sincerely believe in what they are doing. Not for any material or reasons of their own ambitions. But, unfortunately, later the situation began to change very much. The more this whole situation [with protests] began to calm down, the more internal strife began, some kind of incomprehensible political games that I always tried to avoid, my own ambitions, ”said Protasevich.

At the same time, he also noted that his political views have not changed and he is still not a supporter of Alexander Lukashenko.

“Yes, I respect him as a person who was able to withstand all the onslaught that began in the summer and continues to this day. But I will not be a supporter of the president. I'm not saying that I absolutely completely go over to the side of the state. I tell the reason why I, among other things, cooperate with the investigation,” he said.

At the end, the blogger asked the journalists if they believed in his words. BelaPAN correspondent Tatyana Korovenkova answered in the negative.

“It’s hard for me to imagine, Roman, what you have had to endure in recent weeks. I sincerely sympathize with you. And I think that many people in Belarus and many of your colleagues also sincerely sympathize with you. I don’t believe everything you say,” she said.

BBC journalists accredited to the event left the press conference at the beginning in protest, due to the fact that Protasevich could take part in it against his will.

During the briefing, the chairman of the Investigative Committee, Dmitry Gora, said that the blogger's girlfriend, Russian Sofya Sapega, was detained on suspicion of committing a crime under Article 342 (participation in riots). However, later she was brought as a defendant in another criminal case, which is being investigated under part 3 of article 130 of the Criminal Code (inciting social hatred and discord). She faces up to 15 years in prison.

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This is not the first communication of Roman Protasevich, who is in custody, with the media. On June 3, the Belarusian state channel ONT showed a long interview with an opposition leader. Protasevich's father Dmitry then stated that this broadcast was "the result of a week of torture", and did not rule out that Roman was under the influence of psychotropic drugs. What Protasevich talked about in his first interview, read here .