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The families of dissident journalist Roman Protasevich and his Russian girlfriend Sofia Sapega have spoken of their concern for their safety. The couple were arrested after the plane they were on was forced to divert to Belarus. They're now being held in a KGB pre-trial detention centre in the capital, Minsk. Both have been seen in videos confessing to crimes - apparently coerced to do so.

Hanna Liubakova, a journalist and friend of Roman Protasevich, says he's been worried for some time, but had hoped he would be safe if he stayed in European countries.

"At first he wanted to travel to a country that is outside of the EU and then he was recommended not to... He changed addresses, he was cautious."

(Photo: A protestor holding drawings of Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega. Credit: EPA)