Belarus sentences opponent Maria Kolesnikova to 11 years in prison for "conspiracy"

Belarusian opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Maxime Znak, during their trial in Minsk, September 6, 2021. © Ramil Nasibulin / BeITA, Reuters

Text by: RFI Follow

7 mins

The Belarusian justice sentenced this Monday, September 6 to 11 years in prison Maria Kolesnikova, one of the great figures of the protest of the summer of 2020. The sentence illustrates a relentless repression of any opposition to the regime of Alexander Lukashenko.

Berlin denounces an "

unjustifiable

 "

conviction 

.

Advertising

Read more

Maria Kolesnikova, 39

, was convicted of " 

conspiracy to seize power

 ", " 

calls for actions undermining national security

 "

and

creation of an extremist formation

 ", announced the press service of Viktor Babaryko, another imprisoned opponent for whom she had worked.

His co-accused, lawyer Maxime Znak, received a 10-year prison sentence.

The trial of the two opponents, who have been in jail for 11 months, began in early August and was held behind closed doors, so few details have leaked out.

Most independent media, NGOs and opposition movements have also suffered relentless repression for months.

Defense lawyers were also prohibited from speaking on the content of the case.

According to images released before the verdict by accounts on Telegram messaging, Maria Kolesnikova, short hair and wearing lipstick, was smiling at the hearing.

She was locked up with Maxime Znak in the glass cage reserved for the accused.

Handcuffed, she formed, for the attention of the few authorized pro-power media, a heart with her hands.

This is one of the rallying signs of the opposition, along with the raised fist and V-shaped fingers of victory.

At the start of the trial, she had sketched a few dance steps as a sign of defiance of the power of Alexander Lukashenko.

At the helm since 1994,

his decried re-election in 2020 had triggered an unprecedented challenge

.

After the sentence, Germany denounced an “

unjustifiable

 ”

sentence 

and demanded “ 

the release of all political prisoners in Belarus,

 ” a spokeswoman for the German Foreign Ministry said during a regular press briefing.

► 

To read also: 

Belarus: one year after the disputed re-election of Alexander Lukashenko

Terrorize Belarusians

 "

The opposition candidate in this ballot,

Svetlana Tikhanovskaya

reacted on Twitter to this verdict, demanding " 

the immediate release of Maria and Maxime

 ".

It is about terrorizing Belarusians who are opposed to the regime,

 " she denounced.

The regime sentenced Maria Kalesnikava & Maksim Znak to 11 & 10 years in prison.

We demand the immediate release of Maria & Maksim, who aren't guilty of anything.

It's terror against Belarusians who dare to stand up to the regime.

We won't stop until everybody is free in Belarus.

pic.twitter.com/RbnefQzX0q

- Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) September 6, 2021

Maria Kolesnikova was imprisoned in September 2020 after spectacularly resisting

an attempt by the authorities to expel her from her own country

.

According to her relatives, the Belarusian special services (KGB) kidnapped her, then put a bag over her head to take her to the Ukrainian border.

Refusing to leave Belarus, she jumped out of a window and tore up her passport, resulting in her incarceration.

Maria Kolesnikova and Maxime Znak worked for Viktor Babaryko, rival of the Belarusian president recently sentenced to 14 years in prison for fraud, a case he denounces as politician.

They also belonged to the seven-member Coordination Council set up by the opposition after the August 2020 presidential election to organize a peaceful transition of power.

Maria Kolesnikova was

one of three women propelled

to the head of the protest movement, along with Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, presidential candidate in place of her imprisoned husband, and Veronika Tsepkalo.

The latter two fled the country, under pressure from the authorities.

Lukashenko soon received by Putin

The protest movement, which gathered tens of thousands of demonstrators in the streets in the summer of 2020, has been gradually subdued, with thousands of arrests, forced exiles and imprisonments of political leaders, media officials and NGOs.

The Belarusian regime is also accused of having hijacked a commercial flight in May on the pretext of a bomb threat, in order to arrest the dissident and journalist Roman Protassevich who was on board.

The

West has adopted several sanctions packages against Minsk

, which however enjoys the unfailing support of Moscow.

President Lukashenko is to be received again this week by Vladimir Putin, the two leaders working for months to strengthen the economic and political integration of their countries.

(With AFP)

To read and listen also: 

Ukraine, land of refuge for Belarusians (Report)

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

  • Belarus

  • Alexander Lukashenko

  • Justice