The Intelligence from The Economist From out of thin air: Belarus dissidents' fates
May 26, 2021
Arkady Ostrovsky, The Economist's Russia editor, delves into the chilling implications of Belarus’s government detaining a dissident journalist and his girlfriend, sparking international condemnation. Olivia Ackland reports on the chaos following the Mount Nyiragongo eruption in Congo, where locals fled to safety amid panic. The duo also discuss the increasing trend of copyright disputes in the music industry, highlighting how artists navigate the fine line between inspiration and infringement.
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Belarus Flight Diversion
- Belarusian journalist Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega were arrested after their flight was diverted to Minsk.
- Ms. Sapega appeared in a video seemingly confessing to publishing information about Belarusian officials.
Protasevich's Role
- Roman Protasevich, a journalist and activist, is part of a new generation of Belarusians who see their country as part of Europe.
- He is one of the people behind Nexta, a popular social media news channel that covered Belarusian protests.
Transnational Repression
- The detainment of Protasevich reflects a worrying trend of transnational repression.
- Repressive regimes are increasingly targeting dissidents abroad, similar to historical instances like Trotsky's assassination.