Her loved ones had not heard from her for more than a year and a half. Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, imprisoned in Gomel, Belarus, was able to briefly reunite with her father, former opposition journalist Roman Protassevich announced on Telegram on Tuesday, November 12, with supporting photographs. In the latter, the opponent appears smiling and hugs her father, Alexander Kolesnikov. “I was finally able to hold her in my arms.” declared Wednesday, adding that she was “under relatively normal conditions” but that he could not comment further, since the authorities had only authorized this brief meeting on the condition that he did not divulge any details.
The leader of the Belarusian democratic forces in exile, Svetlana Tsikhanovskaya, stated “deeply relieved”. “She was held incommunicado for more than six hundred days, starving and isolated from her family. Now we must push to break the isolation of other political prisoners and free them all! »wrote on the social network
In September, Maria Kolesnikova’s sister, Tatsiana Khomich, warned about her state of health after hearing from released former prisoners. According to her, the opponent was hungry and deprived of medical care. “It’s not punishment, it’s cruelty.”he denounced. After the photographs appeared, Tatsiana Khomich expressed her relief. “I can’t believe it, we are very happy”write, hoping “The possibility of continuing in contact with her will be maintained”.
Closed trial
Maria Kolesnikova, 42, is a respected opposition figure. In August 2020, he opposed the re-election of Alexander Lukashenko as head of the country. The vote, marred by massive fraud, sparked an unprecedented protest movement, which was brutally repressed and drove thousands of opponents into exile. In September 2020, Maria Kolesnikova was kidnapped by security forces in Minsk and taken to the border for deportation. She then tore up her passport to stay in her country, before being imprisoned.
In September 2021, a court in Minsk sentenced her to eleven years in prison, among other things for “conspiring to seize power”, “calling for actions that undermine national security” and “creating or managing an extremist organization”. The verdict, announced at the end of a closed-door trial, sparked widespread international condemnation. Since then, three years have passed before Alexander Lukashenko declared, in October, that he could consider the possibility of pardoning the opponent if she requested it. Maria Kolesnikova’s father said Wednesday that he had discussed this possibility with her. “ “She thinks about it.” said.
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