Nicki Ayers
Abducted journalist Roman Protesevich's girlfriend could be tortured as a way to get to him, her parents fear, after she was arrested in Belarus and sent to a notorious jail for political prisoners. Andrey Sapega and his ex-wife Anna Dudich spoke out today, 72 hours after 23-year-old daughter Sofia Sapega was bundled off a Ryanair plane in Minsk when Belarusian authorities diverted it there using a fake bomb threat. Mr Sapega, 53, said he is 'very, very concerned for Sofia' after learning that she had been sent to the notorious Okrestina Street detention centre, where prisoners have reported being electrocuted, viciously beaten, and made to adopt stress positions for hours at a time. Sofia was tonight jailed for two months on suspicion of committing an unspecified criminal offence, according to her lawyer Alexander Filanovich. She will serve the entirety at the notorious Okrestina Street jail. 'However strong she is, the guys now dealing with the destiny of my daughter, they can break anyone,' Mr Sapega said from his home in Russia's Vladivostok. 'Why do the Belorussian authorities need her now? 'As a way of putting pressure on Roman? I don't know, but it's quite likely.' Anna added: 'I fear for Sofia, what will happen to her. My main fear [is] of false accusations and my child being jailed.' Asked whether she thought Sofia is being held to pressure Roman, she said: 'I share this idea but she is an ordinary fifth year student. She is not into any political activity. 'I know everything about her life. She is not into any political activities and she dreams to carry on her diploma.' The pair spoke out as Belarus published what it claimed was a transcript of its air traffic controller warning a confused Ryanair pilot of a bomb on board, before he makes the call to divert the plane to Minsk. The script, which has not been independently verified, appears to confirm that Belarus had issued the bomb threat directly, but makes no mention of a fighter plane sent to escort the passenger jet. On arrival in Minsk, Roman and Sofia were separated from the other passengers before being put into an SUV by government officials and driven away. Nothing has been heard from Sofia since. Roman has appeared on camera in which he claims he is being treated well and is confessing to his crimes. Father Dzmitry said his son appears to have a broken nose, missing teeth, and is speaking under duress. Elsewhere today: Joe Biden condemned the hijack as 'a direct affront to international norms', adding that 'this outrageous incident the video Mr Protasevich appears to have made under duress are shameful' Germany's foreign minister Heiko Maas said Lukashenko will 'pay bitter price' for 'heinous' plane diversion French President Emmanuel Macron suggested inviting Belarusian opposition leaders to next month's G7 summit, which is due to be held in the UK British Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the video of Protasevich as 'deeply disturbing' and warned that Belarus's actions 'will have consequences' The UN and NATO condemned the 'state hijacking' of an aircraft and called for the immediate release of Protasevich and Sapega, saying they are victims of 'unlawful arrest and arbitrary detention' Flight tracking data showed flights from European countries skirting Belarus airspace after EU leaders called for the country to be blacklisted, saying more 'targeted' sanctions against officials are being prepared Alexander Lukashenko defied all of them by signing off tough new laws cracking down on the media, banning live reports on demonstrations and allowing the government to close outlets down Belarus jailed seven political activists, including Young Front leader Pavel Severinets, for between four and seven years for taking part in 'mass unrest' following the 2020 election Moscow denied any involvement in Protasevich's arrest, saying claims are driven by 'anti-Russian' sentiment A leading ally of Vladimir Putin called for detained Belarus activist Roman Protasevich to be 'shot like a dog' Anna Dudich (left) and Andrey Sapega (right), the parents of law student Sofia Sapega who was arrested alongside her Belarusian boyfriend Roman Protasevich at the weekend, have spoken of their fears for their daughter Both Andrey and Anna, who are now separated, say they worry that Sofia (pictured) will be tortured in order to put pressure on her boyfriend and worry that she might be jailed on false charges more videos 1 2 3 Watch video Duckro family and neighbors stand and do nothing as James Rayl dies Watch video Ohio father discusses fatally shooting daughter's ex-boyfriend Watch video Richard Grenell calls for FBI agent who 'staged photo' to be fired Watch video Distressing moment Spaniards attach flaming torches to bull's horns Watch video James Rayl's sister shares clip of his ex and her dad who shot him Watch video Women attack and pepper-spray rideshare driver in NYC Watch video Man berated as 'dirty Hindu' by customer at Taco Bell Watch video James Rayl's last voicemail to his ex before her father killed him Watch video Moment carjackers steal car with wheelchair for special needs child Watch video Would-be robber is chased away by former police shopkeeper Watch video Jill Biden hosts first meeting back since COVID-19 Isolation Watch video Moment Rodeo bull ESCAPES holding pen and runs into crowds Sofia's parents spoke out after boyfriend Roman was seen on camera for the first time since his arrest (left), with father Dzmitry saying it appears his son's nose is broken and some teeth are missing (Roman pictured in 2017, right, for comparison) The couple (pictured together left) were returning to Lithuania from a holiday in Greece on Sunday when the plane they were on was diverted by authorities in Belarus because of a fake bomb threat, before the couple were separated from the other passengers (right) and bundled into a waiting car more videos 1 2 3 Watch video Duckro family and neighbors stand and do nothing as James Rayl dies Watch video Ohio father discusses fatally shooting daughter's ex-boyfriend Watch video Richard Grenell calls for FBI agent who 'staged photo' to be fired Watch video Distressing moment Spaniards attach flaming torches to bull's horns Watch video James Rayl's sister shares clip of his ex and her dad who shot him Watch video Woman whose father shot dead her ex says victim 'changed' Watch video Women attack and pepper-spray rideshare driver in NYC Watch video Man berated as 'dirty Hindu' by customer at Taco Bell Watch video James Rayl's last voicemail to his ex before her father killed him Watch video Would-be robber is chased away by former police shopkeeper Watch video Jill Biden hosts first meeting back since COVID-19 Isolation Watch video Moment Rodeo bull ESCAPES holding pen and runs into crowds