Minutes to Touchdown: The Moment a Belarusian Dissident Knew His Time Was Up

Opposition blogger and activist Roman Protasevich, who is accused of participating in an unsanctioned protest at the Kuropaty preserve, waits before the beginning of a court hearing in Minsk, Belarus, on April 10, 2017. Stringer/Reuters

VILNIUS—Ryanair Flight 4978 had already begun its descent into the Lithuanian capital when the pilot announced that the plane would be suddenly diverting to Minsk, capital of neighboring Belarus.

There was no explanation.