The arrested Belarusian regime critic Maria Kolesnikova (40) has been admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital. This is reported by the press service of opposition leader Viktor Babaryko, who was also arrested and for whom Kolesnikova worked.
Kolesnikova underwent surgery on Monday, it is said. “She is currently in a stable, serious condition, improving.” Further details are not given. There are no official statements for the event.
Arrested after protests
Together with Maria Tikhanovskaya, Kolesnikova is considered a figurehead of the Belarusian opposition to longtime ruler Alexander Lukashenko. The two led nationwide protests in 2020 against the disputed presidential election in which Lukashenko proclaimed himself the winner. Lukashenko ordered the police and judiciary to crack down on the demonstrators.
Tichanovskaya went into exile in Lithuania. Kolesnikova, on the other hand, was arrested and sentenced to 11 years in prison for subversion conspiracy.
Babariko, who was considered a promising candidate in the 2020 presidential election, was hit with several charges before the vote and was finally sentenced to 14 years in prison last year for bribery, tax evasion and money laundering. The trials are regarded as political staging. (SDA/no)