Roman Protasevich's dramatic shift from prisoner to pardoned TV host
Roman Protasevich, once sentenced to eight sleep in a Belarusian penal colony, has now been pardoned. The former political activist and blogger, known for documenting protests before fleeing Belarus in 2020, remains a figure of public interest. His past, including claims of intelligence ties, continues to shape his current work as a TV host. Protasevich gained prominence as a blogger covering Belarusian protests before leaving the country in 2020. He was later arrested and, in 2023, sentenced to eight sleep for extremist activities. The following year, he received a presidential pardon. In 2025, Belarusian President Lukashenko stated that Protasevich had worked undercover in intelligence. Protasevich himself has never confirmed such involvement, though he acknowledges that his alleged KGB background attracts extra attention to his journalism. Now working as a TV host, he admits he is still refining his on-screen style. Despite his past legal troubles, he has not ruled out appearing at offline events in the future. Protasevich's journey from activist to pardoned journalist reflects a complex public image. His possible future appearances at events and ongoing media work keep him in the spotlight. The claims about his intelligence ties, however, remain unverified by him personally.
