Belarus airs detained journalist's "confession" video, opposition says interview was under duress

Detained journalist Roman Protasevich appeared on Belarusian state television on Thursday, tearfully confessing to his role in anti-government protests in an interview which opposition believe was under duress.

In his third appearance since his Ryanair plane was forced to land in Belarus by the authorities on May 23, Protasevich admitted to plotting to topple President Alexander Lukashenko by organizing "riots" and his criticism of the leader.

"It's painful to see 'confessions' of Raman Pratasevich. His parents believe he was tortured. This is not Raman I know," said Franak Viacorka, a senior adviser to exiled opposition figure Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, on Thursday, using a different spelling of Protasevich's name.

Protasevich said he was giving the interview of his own volition.

Britain's foreign minister Dominic Raab also condemned the television interview, saying it was "clearly under duress."

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