Roman Protasevic, one of the founders and former editor-in-chief of NEXTA channel, which is recognized as a terrorist organization in Belarus, has filed an additional charge by the prosecutor’s office for re-running an extremist organisation. DEA News.
At a hearing in Minsk, state prosecutor Natalya Sokolova read the text of the accusations against the defendants in a case of conspiracy to seize power, including Protasevich, NEXTA founder Stepan Putilo, and another former editor-in-chief of the channel. Yan Rudik.
According to the indictment, as the editor-in-chief of NEXTA from May to September 2020, Protasevich served as the head of the channel, publishing information inciting criminal activities that involve people in extremist activities. Protasevich moved from Warsaw to Vilnius in October 2020, and until May 2021 directed and hosted the Belarusian Brain channel, also known as an extremist formation in the republic. The state prosecutor stressed that Protasevich here supports the same information agenda as at NEXTA.
The state prosecutor explained that during the court hearing it became necessary to charge Protasevich with a more serious charge than before.
Formerly Protasevic declarationthat he fully admitted his guilt and that he was “morally and psychologically prepared for any outcome” of the trial.