Roman Protasevich's video 'confession' broadcast in Belarus last night was 'rehearsed and scripted,' body language experts have revealed.

The dissident journalist, known as an expressive news host, clasped his hands tightly as he spoke in clipped phrases - suggesting he was wracked by nerves.

The 26-year-old's father today said his son's nose appeared to be broken and his allies believe he had almost certainly been tortured after being hauled off a Ryanair flight with his girlfriend on Sunday.

The plane was hijacked in mid-air by a fighter jet which strongman President Alexander Lukashenko had personally ordered go and retrieve Mr Protasevich - a prolific regime critic who helped organise massive protests last year.

Mr Protasevich appears in the video with a mark on his forehead, his chin is slightly raised and his puffy eyes stare straight ahead, suggesting he is reading from a cue.

Body language expert Robin Kermode told MailOnline: 'His voice sounds almost unnaturally strong in the circumstances.

There is no faltering, as if this has been rehearsed and tightly scripted.'