TALLINN, Estonia — Maria Kolesnikova, a prominent Belarusian opposition figure currently serving an 11-year prison sentence, is contemplating the possibility of requesting a pardon from President Alexander Lukashenko after spending over four years behind bars. This revelation comes from her father, Alexander Kolesnikov, who spoke about their recent reunion during an interview.
Kolesnikov visited his daughter in a prison hospital located near Gomel, where they shared a brief moment after more than 20 months of silence from Kolesnikova, a figure celebrated for her resistance against the regime. “I finally could embrace her,” he expressed, noting that she appeared to be in relatively good health given the circumstances. However, he was instructed not to divulge further details about their conversation or her condition.
During their meeting, they discussed the option of appealing to Lukashenko for a pardon, a thought that Kolesnikova is currently mulling over, according to her father. It was reported last November that she was transferred to an intensive care unit for treatment of a perforated ulcer, raising concerns about her health, as she had reportedly lost significant weight — standing at 5 feet 9 inches and weighing around 45 kilograms (100 pounds).
Kolesnikova’s sister, Tatiana Khomich, expressed their gratitude for the allowed visit and hoped that further communications with her sister would be permitted. A heartwarming image of the reunion was shared online, illustrating the poignant moment between father and daughter.
As Lukashenko prepares for a crucial presidential election in January 2025, aiming for an unprecedented seventh term, he has released 146 political prisoners since July; many of them suffering from health issues or having submitted forgiveness petitions. Nevertheless, the human rights organization Viasna reports that approximately 1,300 political prisoners remain incarcerated, including Ales Bialiatsky, the group’s Nobel Peace Prize laureate founder, with at least seven inmates reported to have died while imprisoned.
The climate of oppression in Belarus has seen many prominent opposition leaders either jailed or forced into exile. The ongoing crackdown since the widely contested August 2020 election — which marked the beginning of mass protests against Lukashenko’s extended rule — led to an alarming number of arrests, totaling about 65,000, alongside public outcry regarding police brutality.
Despite the release of some political prisoners, the state continues to implement a new wave of arrests aimed at silencing dissent in anticipation of the upcoming election. Kolesnikova initially rose to prominence amidst the 2020 protests, known for her defiant spirit and iconic gestures that resonated with demonstrators. As a classically trained flautist, she became a potent symbol of resistance when she refused deportation by tearing up her passport at the border, eventually leading to her conviction on charges related to conspiracy against the government.
Pavel Sapelka, a representative from Viasna, suggested that the meeting between Kolesnikova and her father might indicate Lukashenko’s willingness to engage in dialogue regarding political prisoners. He noted that the president appears to be observing international responses to his recent actions and may be poised for negotiations ahead of the January elections.
