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- Belarusian opposition politician Maria Kolesnikova disappeared on Monday.
- According to the border guards of Belarus (Belarus), she was arrested when she was about to leave.
- However, the opposition stressed that Kolesnikova should be removed from the country against her will.
- Two of his employees have held a press conference in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
The two employees, Ivan Kravzov and Anton Rodnenkow, said in Kiev that Kolesnikova had broken her passport at a border post in southern Belarus to prevent a forced departure.
She then returned to the Belarusian border crossing, where she is said to have been arrested. Her colleagues crossed the border into Ukraine because they feared they would also be arrested. “Maria is a real hero,” Rodnenkow said. You do not want to leave Belarus under any circumstances.
Anton Rodnenkow (left) and Iwan Krawzow addressed the international media Monday night.
Keystone
Kolesnikova, 38, is one of the most important opposition figures. Lukashenko said in an interview with journalists from Russian state media that Kolesnikova allegedly wanted to flee to Ukraine with her sister. Border officials prevented them from doing so.
Confusing whereabouts
According to the authorities, the arrest was made to “clarify the circumstances.” No details were given. The opposition also confirmed the arrest, but had no further details. She received information that Kolesnikova was being held in a prison in the south of the country.
On Tuesday evening, numerous people gathered in Minsk in solidarity with Kolesnikova. The footage showed how masked forces brutally arrested at least a dozen protesters and dispersed people.
Again there were clashes between the police and protesters on Tuesday.
Keystone
Kolesnikova repeatedly appeared in protests against Lukashenko and was cheered on by protesters. She herself had stressed that she did not want to leave the country.
The opposition wants a change of power
The background to the protests is the presidential elections of more than four weeks ago. Lukashenko declared himself the winner with 80.1 percent of the votes. The opposition, however, considers Svetlana Tichanowskaya to be the real winner. The vote is criticized internationally for being grossly falsified.
In the interview with Russian state television, the president refused to hold talks with members of the opposition. This is not an opposition. Everything it offers is a catastrophe for Belarus, ”he said. The 66-year-old claimed that his opponents wanted to “cut ties with fraternal Russia.” Minsk, on the other hand, wants further integration with Moscow.
The opposition wants to achieve a peaceful change of power through dialogue through a coordinating council. Their representatives had given the authoritarian leadership several talks. In addition, the agency wants to continue working with Russia. Lukashenko has been in power for 26 years.
