Belarus's opposition-in-exile said Friday that dissident journalist Roman Protasevich, who was dramatically detained after his plane was forced to land in Minsk, has been moved to house arrest.

The arrest of Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega after&nbsp;Belarusian authorities intercepted the Ryanair flight on which they were travelling from Athens to Vilnius on May 23 caused international outrage.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/belarusian-president-alexander-lukashenko-mocks-eu-calls-sanctions-powerlessness-393739">Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mocks EU, calls sanctions 'powerlessness'</a>

They are accused of helping to coordinate historic anti-government protests last year, which erupted after strongman President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a sixth term in an August vote the opposition and Western leaders said was rigged.

An advisor to exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said that he had spoken with Protasevich's parents, who told him their son had been moved to house arrest.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/husband-of-belarusian-opposition-leader-goes-on-trial-393862/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The 38-year-old opponent of Lukashenko was forced into exile to EU member state Lithuania shortly after last year's anti-government protests began.&nbsp;

Most of the moustachioed strongman's opponents are now either in jail or have fled the country.

The European Union imposed economic sanctions on&nbsp;Belarus&nbsp;on Thursday, targeting its main export industries and access to finance.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who faced street protests last year over a presidential election which opponents say was rigged, said the interception was justified to prevent a rebellion. He denies electoral fraud.

Protasevich is accused of organising mass riots, and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. Sapega has been accused of causing unrest. Their supporters say the accusations against the two are false and dismiss video confessions which they say were made under duress in detention.

Protasevich's father was quoted by the BBC as saying his son and Sapega were "still under the full control of the authorities" and the charges against them had not been dropped.

Sapega's lawyer Alexander Filanovich said on his Telegram channel that she had also been moved to house arrest.

He added that he expected her case to be "resolved positively in the near future".

(With inputs from agencies)

Belarus's opposition-in-exile said Friday that dissident journalist Roman Protasevich, who was dramatically detained after his plane was forced to land in Minsk, has been moved to house arrest.

Belarus's opposition-in-exile said Friday that dissident journalist Roman Protasevich, who was dramatically detained after his plane was forced to land in Minsk, has been moved to house arrest. The arrest of Roman Protasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega after Belarusian authorities intercepted the Ryanair flight on which they were travelling from Athens to Vilnius on May 23 caused international outrage. Also read| Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mocks EU, calls sanctions 'powerlessness' They are accused of helping to coordinate historic anti-government protests last year, which erupted after strongman President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a sixth term in an August vote the opposition and Western leaders said was rigged. An advisor to exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya said that he had spoken with Protasevich's parents, who told him their son had been moved to house arrest. The 38-year-old opponent of Lukashenko was forced into exile to EU member state Lithuania shortly after last year's anti-government protests began. Most of the moustachioed strongman's opponents are now either in jail or have fled the country. The European Union imposed economic sanctions on Belarus on Thursday, targeting its main export industries and access to finance. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who faced street protests last year over a presidential election which opponents say was rigged, said the interception was justified to prevent a rebellion. He denies electoral fraud. Protasevich is accused of organising mass riots, and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted. Sapega has been accused of causing unrest. Their supporters say the accusations against the two are false and dismiss video confessions which they say were made under duress in detention. Protasevich's father was quoted by the BBC as saying his son and Sapega were "still under the full control of the authorities" and the charges against them had not been dropped. Sapega's lawyer Alexander Filanovich said on his Telegram channel that she had also been moved to house arrest. He added that he expected her case to be "resolved positively in the near future". (With inputs from agencies)

Belarus moves jailed opposition blogger Protasevich to house arrest

After the US imposed sanctions on several top Belarus officials, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/european-union-imposes-new-sanctions-on-belarus-after-plane-re-routing-391990">European Union</a> blacklisted the country's defence minister&nbsp;Viktor Khrenin and transport minister&nbsp;Alexei Avramenko&nbsp;over the plane diversion row.

The EU added 71 individuals including Russian tycoon Mikhail Gutseriyev, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-removes-belarusian-opposition-leader-sviatlana-tsikhanouskaya-from-wanted-list-391626">Lukashenko's</a> son Dmitry and daughter-in-law Liliya to the sanctions list.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/jailed-belarus-journalist-makes-another-public-appearance-391518/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had earlier said that new sanctions would be imposed against "86 people and entities".

EU states are set to impose fresh sanctions on Belarus' financial, oil, tobacco and potash sectors, reports said as Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg stated that Europe is set to "tighten the thumbscrews" over the country's "air piracy".

President Lukashenko's government had earlier forced a Ryanair flight to land and forcibly arrested dissident blogger Roman Protasevich who was onboard leading EU nations to come down heavily against the regime.

The EU had earlier slapped sanctions against 88 individuals last year&nbsp;over crackdown on protests as&nbsp;President Lukashenko claimed victory in polls which was deemed fraudulent by European officials.

Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claimed victory in the polls but was forced to leave&nbsp;the country.

Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet said that the situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate.

Bachelet hit out against restrictions on freedom of expression including raids against civil society. The rights chief said there were numerous reports of "arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and ill-treatment."

(With inputs from Agencies)

After the US imposed sanctions on several top Belarus officials, the European Union blacklisted the country's defence minister Viktor Khrenin and transport minister Alexei Avramenko over the plane diversion row.

After the US imposed sanctions on several top Belarus officials, the European Union blacklisted the country's defence minister Viktor Khrenin and transport minister Alexei Avramenko over the plane diversion row. The EU added 71 individuals including Russian tycoon Mikhail Gutseriyev, Lukashenko's son Dmitry and daughter-in-law Liliya to the sanctions list. Watch: EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had earlier said that new sanctions would be imposed against "86 people and entities". EU states are set to impose fresh sanctions on Belarus' financial, oil, tobacco and potash sectors, reports said as Austria's foreign minister Alexander Schallenberg stated that Europe is set to "tighten the thumbscrews" over the country's "air piracy". President Lukashenko's government had earlier forced a Ryanair flight to land and forcibly arrested dissident blogger Roman Protasevich who was onboard leading EU nations to come down heavily against the regime. The EU had earlier slapped sanctions against 88 individuals last year over crackdown on protests as President Lukashenko claimed victory in polls which was deemed fraudulent by European officials. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya claimed victory in the polls but was forced to leave the country. Meanwhile, UN High Commissioner for human rights Michelle Bachelet said that the situation in Belarus continues to deteriorate. Bachelet hit out against restrictions on freedom of expression including raids against civil society. The rights chief said there were numerous reports of "arbitrary arrests, detentions, torture and ill-treatment." (With inputs from Agencies)

EU blacklists Belarus ministers as US slaps sanctions on officials

Belarus has, in retaliation against sanctions imposed by the EU, announced a list of sanctions it intends to press against the union.

The country's foreign ministry said on Friday it had compiled a list of people barred from entering Belarus, adding it would not be made public.

The European Union (EU) leaders broke a diplomatic deadlock earlier on Friday and imposed sanctions on Belarus after hours of summit talks.

They arrived on a decision after Cyprus dropped its opposition over demands that the bloc also punish Turkey for tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

EU chief Charles Michel, however, confirmed that Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko was himself not among the figures targetted on a new sanctions list.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/eu-imposes-sanctions-on-belarus-lukashenko-not-on-the-list-331862">Also read |&nbsp;EU imposes sanctions on Belarus; Lukashenko not on the list</a>

"No Lukashenko is not on the current list, but of course we will follow the situation, we will follow developments," the president of the European Council said after meeting EU leaders.

The deal on sanctions against about 40 officials accused of rigging August's presidential election in Belarus means the EU can make good on a promise to support pro-democracy protesters in Minsk and regain some credibility after weeks of delays.

Cyprus, one of the EU's smallest countries, had blocked the action against Belarus for a month, insisting that sanctions also be imposed on its neighbour Turkey for oil and gas exploration along the coast of the Mediterranean island.

Germany pushed back against a tough stand on Turkey, fearing it would disrupt efforts to cool tensions with EU member Greece.

Turkey, both a candidate to join the EU and a member of NATO, has slid towards authoritarianism under President Tayyip Erdogan but remains a strategically located partner that the EU cannot ignore.

(with inputs from agencies)

Belarus has, in retaliation against sanctions imposed by the EU, announced a list of sanctions it intends to press against the union. The country's foreign ministry said on Friday it had compiled a list of people barred from entering Belarus, adding it would not be made public.

Belarus has, in retaliation against sanctions imposed by the EU, announced a list of sanctions it intends to press against the union. The country's foreign ministry said on Friday it had compiled a list of people barred from entering Belarus, adding it would not be made public. The European Union (EU) leaders broke a diplomatic deadlock earlier on Friday and imposed sanctions on Belarus after hours of summit talks. They arrived on a decision after Cyprus dropped its opposition over demands that the bloc also punish Turkey for tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. EU chief Charles Michel, however, confirmed that Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko was himself not among the figures targetted on a new sanctions list. Also read | EU imposes sanctions on Belarus; Lukashenko not on the list "No Lukashenko is not on the current list, but of course we will follow the situation, we will follow developments," the president of the European Council said after meeting EU leaders. The deal on sanctions against about 40 officials accused of rigging August's presidential election in Belarus means the EU can make good on a promise to support pro-democracy protesters in Minsk and regain some credibility after weeks of delays. Cyprus, one of the EU's smallest countries, had blocked the action against Belarus for a month, insisting that sanctions also be imposed on its neighbour Turkey for oil and gas exploration along the coast of the Mediterranean island. Germany pushed back against a tough stand on Turkey, fearing it would disrupt efforts to cool tensions with EU member Greece. Turkey, both a candidate to join the EU and a member of NATO, has slid towards authoritarianism under President Tayyip Erdogan but remains a strategically located partner that the EU cannot ignore. (with inputs from agencies)

Belarus announces sanctions list in retaliation against EU

In Belarus, protests has been intensified against the Alexander Lukashenko regime. The long ruling 'strongman' is now facing new threat in the form of European Union sanctions.

Protest intensifies in Belarus against Lukashenko regime, face new threats as EU sanctions