Raman Protasevich, the Belarusian opposition blogger arrested two years ago after the plane was on was forced to land in Minsk, was pardoned on Monday, the Belarusian state news agency Belta reported.

"I have literally just signed all the relevant documents stating that I have been pardoned," Belta cited the blogger as telling reporters. "This is, of course, great news."

Protasevich had been sentenced to eight years in a penal colony earlier this month for offenses including inciting terrorism, organizing mass disturbances and slandering Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.

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