Belarusian Dissident Maria Kalesnikava Permitted First Visit with Father Since Imprisonment
Maria Kalesnikava, a prominent Belarusian dissident and opposition leader, was allowed to meet with her father on November 12, marking her first public appearance in over a year. Images from this meeting, shared on the Telegram app by former dissident Roman Protosevich, depict Kalesnikava smiling, reportedly taken in a prison hospital.
Kalesnikava, a key figure in the protests against President Alexander Lukashenko following the controversial 2020 election, was arrested shortly after supporting exiled leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s campaign. Following her arrest, she was imprisoned for 11 years on charges including conspiracy to seize power, having previously attempted to thwart her deportation by ripping up her passport.
The release of photos of Kalesnikava has prompted reactions from her supporters. Viacek Viacorka, an aide to Tsikhanouskaya, expressed relief at confirming Kalesnikava’s well-being, attributing the meeting to international pressure and solidarity. Despite this small victory, he noted that there were no indications that Kalesnikava or other opposition leaders would be released soon, suggesting that the regime’s decision to allow the visit was an effort to project a false sense of humanity.
Tsikhanouskaya voiced her relief at seeing Kalesnikava after more than 600 days of silence, recalling the intense struggle against the Lukashenko regime. Kalesnikava’s sister previously reported her declining health and significant weight loss during her detention.
Lukashenko, in power since 1994 and a close ally of Russia’s Putin, is running for re-election in January. He is known to have pardoned small groups of inmates on health grounds, hinting that Kalesnikava might receive similar treatment if a formal petition were submitted.
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Photo credit www.hindustantimes.com