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The arrests and kidnappings of opposition figures in Belarus, including today’s incident with a member of the presidency of the opposition coordinating council, Maria Kolesnikova, are unacceptable. This was stated by the head of the EU Chancellery, Josep Borrell.
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, condemned the alleged kidnapping of Maria Kolesnikova, a member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council of the Belarusian Opposition, and the persecution of other activists by the Belarusian authorities. About this he wrote On twitter.
“Arbitrary arrests and politically motivated kidnappings, including today’s violent actions against [политолога] Andrey Egorov, [эколога] Irina Sukhy and Maria Kolesnikova are unacceptable. The authorities must stop intimidating citizens and violating their own international laws and obligations, ”said Borrell.
The arbitrary arrests and politically motivated kidnappings in Belarus, including the brutal actions this morning against Andrei Yahorau, Irina Sukhiy and Maria Kalesnikova, are unacceptable. State authorities must stop intimidating citizens and violating their own laws and int. obligations
– José Borrell (@JosepBorrellF) September 7, 2020
On September 7, a Belarusian woman named Anastasia reported that she had witnessed the kidnapping of Kolesnikova in Minsk. According to her, the opponent was pushed into a dark minibus with the sign “Communication”. Images sent to TUT.BY reporters show a group of people getting into a minibus, but their faces are indistinguishable. Minsk police said they had not detained Kolesnikova.
Kolesnikova is a Belarusian flute player; She began her political career in 2020, when she headed the headquarters of banker Viktor Babariko (she was going to run for president, but was arrested shortly before the elections and was not allowed to attend). After the arrest of Babariko Kolesnikov, along with Veronika Tsepkalo, the wife of another politician not admitted to the elections, Valery Tsepkalo, entered the headquarters of the opposition candidate Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. Tsepkalo left the country even before the elections, Tikhanovskaya – right after them. Therefore, Kolesnikova remains the only opposition leader still in Belarus.
Mass protests have been going on in Belarus since August 9. The protesters believe that the results of the presidential elections were falsified. According to official figures, Current President Alexander Lukashenko won, for which 80.1% of the voters voted. Tikhanovskaya came in second with 10.1% of the vote. At the same time, alternative exit surveys showed the opposite image – a sure victory for Tikhanovskaya.
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