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One day after the alleged abduction of Maria Kolesnikova in Minsk, there is already information about what probably happened. Apparently the last prominent opposition left in Belarus was forced to leave for Ukraine on Tuesday night, as was previously done with Olga Kovalkova, also a member of the opposition Coordination Committee. De facto she was deported to Poland.
One of the most important figures of the protest
But as Kolesnikova’s two closest associates leave Belarus for Ukraine, she has apparently broken her passport, according to various media outlets, to stay in the country. This was confirmed by her colleague Pavel Latushko, also a member of the Coordination Council. In an interview with four Russian media, President Alexander Lukashenko, meanwhile, confirmed that Kolesnikova had been detained at the border.
In recent weeks, Kolesnikova has become a leading figure in the opposition movement against President Lukashenko, whom she accuses of rigging the August elections. Before being abducted by unknown persons, Kolesnikova, 38, was at the forefront of protests in Minsk.
One of Kolesnikova’s biggest challenges appears to be her desire to mobilize people against Lukashenko without formally taking the initiative. Because that role would give the Belarusian authorities reasons to arrest her. “It would be easier for us if we had a guide,” Kolesnikova said in an interview with Kommersant.
Who is Maria Kolesnikova?
Just a few months ago, his name was little known.
He is a professional musician, has studied in Minsk and Stuttgart, has returned to his homeland for several years, where he participates in musical projects and promotes cultural exchange between Belarus, Russia, Ukraine and Germany.
Martin Schutler, a professor at the Stuttgart University of Music and Performing Arts, described Kolesnikova in an interview with the State Security Service as an “extremely strong person”. “She’s incredibly optimistic, very active and energetic. In fact, she couldn’t stop herself, no matter what she did,” Schutler said.
He entered active politics alongside Viktor Babariko, former CEO of Belgazprombank and philanthropist with whom he met during his cultural projects. In May, Babarico surprisingly withdrew his presidential candidacy. He quickly gained support, but was arrested in June for alleged economic crimes along with his son, who was leading his election campaign.
Babariko was barred from running in the elections, and Kolesnikova allied with presidential candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, whose husband was also arrested and banned from running in the elections. Together with Veronica Tsepkalo, wife of another ineligible presidential candidate, they formed the trio of opposition women. However, Tsepkalo left Belarus on election day, apparently out of fear of persecution, and Tikhanovskaya was forced to leave the country a little later. Kolesnikova stayed.
All is not well in the relationship with Tikhanovskaya.
“I was always aware that they could arrest me at any time,” Kolesnikova said in an interview with the State Gazette in the summer. “However, this does not stop me and it does not scare me. Because I know that the processes that have been started in society are irreversible.
It is difficult to evaluate the influence that Kolesnikova has on the seven members of the Coordinating Council of the Opposition in Belarus, of which Svetlana Aleksievich, Nobel Prize in Literature is a member. Most of the Council members were detained or forced to travel abroad. The authorities do not recognize this body and are investigating it. Kolesnikova was more heavily represented in the media, ran a video blog, and radiated confidence, unlike Tikhanovskaya.
In early September, for the first time, there were contradictions in the relations between the two. Tikhanovskaya, who sees herself as the winner of the elections, has criticized some of Babariko and Kolesnikova’s ideas, more specifically their intentions for constitutional reform. The reason for this was a video of Babarico, apparently filmed before her arrest. The opposition has not lost the elections, Tikhanovskaya opposes Babariko’s words. In the same video, Kolesnikova announced the creation of a new party to be called Together. It is not yet clear to what extent this initiative will affect relations within the opposition.
Author: Roman Goncharenko
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