What the rift within the Tsikhanouski family means for the Belarusian opposition in exile

Sofia Sapega, ex-girlfriend of Roman Protasevich, recounted her experience in prison and Protasevich's testimony against her following the 2021 Ryanair diversion in Belarus. In May 2021, Belarusian authorities detained Protasevich and Sapega using false pretenses while he was on a plane from Athens to Vilnius. After her release, Sapega lived under house arrest with Protasevich, breaking up with him and being sentenced to six years in prison.

She spent a year in a penal colony, received a pardon, and returned to her life in Lithuania. Unlike Protasevich, Sapega maintained a low profile after her detention and release. She described her time in house arrest as monotonous, with limited freedoms such as alcohol consumption, seeing a psychologist, and openly discussing her situation.

Sapega attempted suicide by sitting on a windowsill on the sixth floor, ultimately being stopped by passersby. After this incident, her security officers increased their surveillance on her. During her trial, Protasevich testified against her, and she expressed her loss of respect for him. Security officers filed civil claims seeking compensation for emotional distress, which Sapega's family paid for.

At the penal colony, Sapega was considered a personal enemy due to exposing security officers and publishing information about their activities. She recounted an incident where a girl defied the system by calling an officer a derogatory name, resulting in a beating.