Belarusian Activist Kolesnikova Reappears After 20-Month Silence

Belarusian Activist Kolesnikova Reappears After 20-Month Silence \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Imprisoned Belarusian activist Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced after 20 months without contact, meeting her father at a prison hospital, according to the rights group Viasna. The former musician turned opposition leader, jailed for her role in the 2020 protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, remains a symbol of resistance. Her limited reappearance has raised cautious optimism about potential changes for Belarus’s political prisoners.

Maria Kolesnikova’s Limited Reappearance Quick Looks

• First Contact in Nearly Two Years: Imprisoned activist Maria Kolesnikova, held since 2021, met her father after a long period without contact.
• Health Concerns: Kolesnikova suffered serious health issues in custody, including a perforated ulcer, with reports indicating severe weight loss.
• Icon of Resistance: Known for her protest symbol—a heart made with her hands—Kolesnikova emerged as a key figure in the Belarusian resistance.
• Political Prisoner Conditions: Kolesnikova’s limited communication echoes the isolation faced by many of Belarus’s political prisoners.
• Possible Signals from Lukashenko: Human rights groups speculate her reappearance may hint at concessions ahead of the 2025 election.

Deep Look

Imprisoned Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova has resurfaced for the first time in nearly two years, meeting her father at a prison hospital, according to Belarus’s leading human rights organization, Viasna. This brief encounter marks Kolesnikova’s first known interaction with family since February 2023. Once a prominent leader in the mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, Kolesnikova has been serving an 11-year prison sentence in a facility near Gomel, southeastern Belarus, for her role in the 2020 anti-government demonstrations.

The 42-year-old former musician, who gained recognition for her distinctive hand-heart gesture, emerged as one of the most visible figures in the protests following the disputed August 2020 election that granted Lukashenko his sixth term. The election results, widely criticized as fraudulent by international observers, ignited a wave of demonstrations across Belarus. Kolesnikova’s spirited presence and unyielding stance against Lukashenko’s regime inspired many Belarusians, and she soon became an icon of defiance. In September 2020, she took a dramatic stand when Belarusian authorities attempted to deport her. Escorted to the Ukrainian border, she tore up her passport and walked back into Belarus, choosing imprisonment over exile. A year later, she was convicted on charges including conspiracy to seize power.

Kolesnikova has endured serious health issues in prison, raising concerns among her supporters. In November 2022, she was reportedly moved to intensive care to undergo surgery for a perforated ulcer. Former cellmates reported her declining physical condition, with estimates that the 5-foot-9-inch activist’s weight had dropped to around 100 pounds. Her sister, Tatiana Khomich, previously stated that Kolesnikova’s health had suffered greatly under prison conditions, further emphasizing the importance of today’s brief communication with her family.

Viasna’s announcement included photos that show Kolesnikova embracing her father, Alexander Kolesnikov. These images were released by Raman Pratasevich, a former opposition journalist who later aligned with the government following his own arrest. Although the photos’ authenticity could not be immediately verified, they have offered a rare glimpse of the activist and sparked renewed calls for her release. Human rights organizations have been pressing Belarus to uphold international standards of humane treatment for political prisoners, and the U.N. Human Rights Committee has repeatedly demanded “urgent protective measures” for Kolesnikova and other detained opposition figures.

While Kolesnikova’s meeting with her father signals a minor breakthrough, her case is one of many involving political prisoners in Belarus. According to Viasna, at least 1,300 individuals remain imprisoned for political reasons, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate and Viasna founder Ales Bialiatsky. Human rights groups report that at least seven political prisoners have died while in custody, and calls for improved treatment and releases continue to grow. In a report released Tuesday, eight major international organizations declared that Kolesnikova’s isolation reflects broader issues, with worsening conditions for political prisoners in Belarus, particularly in the north.

Belarus has faced significant international criticism over its treatment of opposition figures since the 2020 protests, with the European Parliament and United Nations calling for the release of all political prisoners. Lukashenko’s government, which has maintained a hardline stance, is preparing for the next presidential election in January 2025, where Lukashenko is expected to seek his seventh term. Amid these preparations, the government has released 146 political prisoners since July, citing factors like health issues, requests for pardons, and expressions of remorse. However, authorities have simultaneously launched a wave of new arrests targeting any signs of dissent in advance of the election.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, a Belarusian opposition leader currently in exile, expressed cautious optimism upon learning of Kolesnikova’s family visit. In a statement, Tsikhanouskaya, whose husband, Siarhei Tsikhanouski, is also a political prisoner, reiterated her demand for the release of all political detainees, stressing the need to end the isolation of prisoners who, like her husband, have been held without communication for over 20 months. “We must keep pressing for an end to the isolation of other political prisoners and their release,” she told The Associated Press.

Pavel Sapelka, a lawyer and senior member of Viasna, suggested that Lukashenko may be signaling a willingness to engage with Western powers on the issue of political prisoners. Sapelka noted that allowing Kolesnikova to see her father might indicate a cautious overture from Lukashenko, with the president possibly seeking leverage or bargaining opportunities as international pressure builds. “Lukashenko is waiting for Western reaction to the latest steps and is prepared to bargain ahead of January’s election,” Sapelka said.

As political dynamics in Belarus evolve, observers are closely watching Lukashenko’s strategies for controlling dissent while managing international relations. Lukashenko has maintained that his government must root out “threats to national stability” and continues to rely on a strong security apparatus. His approach has been notably uncompromising, with officials aiming to preempt protests and eliminate challenges to his administration.

For Kolesnikova, this brief family interaction may hold deeper implications. While her health remains a concern, her reappearance could potentially encourage further steps toward transparency regarding political prisoners in Belarus. Meanwhile, international advocacy groups continue to pressure Belarus for wider reforms, demanding freedom for detainees like Kolesnikova and improved treatment for those who remain imprisoned under challenging conditions.

As the countdown to Belarus’s 2025 election begins, Lukashenko’s government faces increasing scrutiny from human rights groups, foreign governments, and Belarusian exiles who seek accountability and reform. The international community remains attentive to developments in Belarus, with hopes that Kolesnikova’s story could inspire broader changes for the country’s political detainees.

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