Belarusian Political Prisoner Maria Kolesnikova Seen After Over 600 Days

Maria Kolesnikova, a Belarusian opposition activist currently imprisoned, was granted a visit with her father, marking the first contact after over 600 days without visits, calls, or correspondence. A photograph shared on social media depicts the activist, seemingly in a prison housecoat, embracing her father. Her expression features the distinctive smile for which she gained recognition as a prominent figure in the extensive protests of 2020. These demonstrations exerted significant pressure on Alexander Lukashenko’s authoritarian government, which maintained power through widespread arrests, police brutality, and torture. While these actions are well-documented, officials continue to deny them. Maria Kolesnikova, identified as a peaceful protester, received an 11-year sentence on charges of extremism and alleged conspiracy to overthrow the government. In September, her sister, Tatsiana, conveyed to the BBC her concern that the Belarusian regime was “killing Maria slowly” in prison. Kolesnikova had been held under severe conditions since March 2023, with no access to family or legal representation. At that time, Tatsiana urged increased international pressure to facilitate her sister’s release and the liberation of numerous other political prisoners in Belarus. Tatsiana has now shared the recent prison photograph on X, accompanying it with the statement: “I cannot believe it!” No details regarding Maria Kolesnikova’s health have been disclosed by her family thus far. Intriguingly, the photograph initially appeared on Telegram, posted by Roman Protasevich, a former opposition journalist. Protasevich was arrested following the forced landing of his Ryanair flight over Belarus and now collaborates with the authorities, having received a presidential pardon and early release. Mr. Protasevich has not provided any information concerning the image of Maria and her father or the context surrounding it. Alexander Lukashenko, who has held power since the early 1990s, has scheduled another presidential election for January, in which no authentic opposition candidates will be permitted to participate. Recently, potentially to enhance his public perception, he initiated the pardoning of limited groups of prisoners. Over 70 individuals have been released since the summer, including some incarcerated for their involvement in the 2020 protests; however, most were nearing the completion of their sentences or were unwell. A statement issued last week indicated that an additional group imprisoned for “extremism” would receive pardons, promising “big news” and specifying that two women were included. Nevertheless, Tatsiana informed the BBC that she does not interpret her sister’s unexpected appearance for a prison visit as an indication of imminent release. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, currently in exile after contesting the election against Lukashenko, shared a brief video on Telegram. In it, she extended greetings to “Masha,” her affectionate term for Maria, and conveyed her “joy” at seeing her reunited with her father. Tikhanovskaya stated, “How happy I am to see the smile that captivated us in 2020 and stays the same despite all you’ve been through.” She further posted on X: “Now, we must keep up the pressure to break the isolation of other political prisoners & free them all!” Sergei, Tikhanovskaya’s husband, remains incarcerated and has also been held incommunicado for an extended period, a situation shared by other political prisoners such as Viktor Babaryko, another prospective presidential candidate imprisoned in 2020. Franak Viacorka, an adviser to Tikhanovskaya, informed the BBC that he views Lukashenko’s action regarding Maria as symbolic. Mr. Viacorka’s assessment is that “Lukashenko is afraid right now to make any big moves and changes before his sham election – his self-reappointment. Just showing Maria doesn’t threaten him, but he wants to show it as a big gesture of humanity – which it’s not of course.” He attributed this gesture to a recent escalation in international scrutiny and pressure. For an extended period, Lukashenko has been regarded as an international outcast, with the European Union having denounced the 2020 election outcomes as “falsified.” Regarding other individuals who remain detained, Mr. Viacorka stated: “I dream of the moment my friends and colleagues are released. But I am a realist.”