Maria Kolesnikova: First sighting of Belarusian political prisoner in 600 days

@Tsihanouskaya”I will not imagine it!” wrote Maria Kolesnikova’s sister on XAfter greater than 600 days of denied visits, calls and correspondence, the jailed Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova has been allowed to look her father in jail.A photograph, revealed on social media, presentations the activist in what seems to be a jail housecoat hugging her father.On her face is the smile she changed into well-known for as probably the most leaders of a wave of huge protests in 2020 that put the authoritarian regime of Alexander Lukashenko below unheard of power.It survived by means of responding with mass arrests, police beatings and torture – all completely documented, however nonetheless flatly denied by means of officers.A calm protester, Maria Kolesnikova used to be sentenced to 11 years for extremism and supposedly plotting to overthrow the federal government.In September, her sister, Tatsiana, advised the BBC that she used to be nervous the Belarusian regime used to be “killing Maria slowly” in prison, the place she were stored in punishing stipulations since March 2023, and used to be no longer allowed any touch with relations or legal professionals.Tatsiana referred to as then for extra global power to protected her sister’s unlock, and the liberty of the various different political prisoners in Belarus.Now, she has posted the brand new jail picture on X with the road: “I will not imagine it!”The circle of relatives have no longer but shared any details about her well being.In an ordinary twist the picture used to be first revealed on Telegram by means of the previous opposition journalist Roman Protasevich, who used to be arrested when his Ryanair flight over Belarus used to be forcibly grounded. He now cooperates with the government, after a presidential pardon and early unlock.Mr Protasevich has given no information about the image of Maria and her father, or the cases.Alexander Lukashenko, in energy for the reason that early Nineties, has referred to as every other presidential election in January by which no authentic opposition applicants might be allowed to participate.Not too long ago, possibly hoping to give a boost to his symbol, he started pardoning small teams of prisoners.Greater than 70 had been set loose since summer time, together with other folks jailed for taking part within the 2020 protests, however maximum had been just about the tip in their sentence or in poor health.A press release closing week said that every other team jailed for “extremism” could be pardoned. It promised “giant information”, and stated two ladies had been at the listing.However Tatsiana advised the BBC that she didn’t imagine the unexpected reappearance of her sister for a jail consult with supposed she used to be about to be set loose.Getty ImagesMaria Kolesnikova, proven right here in 2020, rallied crowds in national protests after Lukashenko claimed but every other landslide election winSvetlana Tikhanovskaya, now in exile after working for election towards Lukashenko, despatched a brief video on Telegram with greetings for “Masha”, as she referred to as Maria affectionately, and expressed “pleasure” to look her reunited along with her father.”How satisfied I’m to look the smile that captivated us in 2020 and remains the similar in spite of all you might have been via,” Tikhanovskaya stated.Writing on X she added: “Now, we should stay up the power to damage the isolation of different political prisoners & loose all of them!”Tikhanovskaya’s husband, Sergei, is a type of nonetheless in jail and has additionally been stored incommunicado for lots of months, as produce other political prisoners together with Viktor Babaryko – every other would-be presidential candidate locked up in 2020.Franak Viacorka, an adviser to Tikhanovskaya, advised the BBC that Lukashenko’s gesture to Maria used to be tokenism.”Lukashenko is afraid at this time to make any giant strikes and adjustments earlier than his sham election – his self-reappointment. Simply appearing Maria does not threaten him, however he desires to turn it as a large gesture of humanity – which it isn’t in fact,” Mr Viacorka believes.He put the gesture all the way down to a up to date building up in global consideration and power.Lukashenko has been a world pariah for a few years, with the Eu Union condemning the 2020 election effects as “falsified”.As for others nonetheless held, Mr Viacorka stated: “I dream of the instant my pals and co-workers are launched. However I’m a realist.”

Author: OpenAI