The family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure hasn't heard from her for over 400 days
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — It’s been 434 days since the family of imprisoned Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova heard from her, her relatives said Wednesday, on the activist’s 42nd birthday.
Kolesnikova, who is serving 11 years in prison for helping organize anti-government protests in Belarus in 2020, and other imprisoned opposition figures have been held incommunicado for months on end, raising fears for their well-being.
“It’s the fourth birthday that Maria spends behind bars, and recently we received information that her health is deteriorating and we don’t know if she’s being treated at all,” her sister Tatsiana Khomich told Belarusian media. Khomich added that the last letter the family received from Kolesnikova came in February 2023, and bits and pieces of news about her trickle through other inmates.
Belarus was rocked by mass protests after an election in 2020 that gave authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko his sixth term in office — a vote that was denounced by the West and the opposition as fraudulent. Authorities responded by arresting more than 35,000 people and brutally beating thousands of them. Many top opposition figures were arrested and given long prison terms, while others fled abroad.
Related articles
West Virginia says it will appeal ruling that allowed transgender teen athlete to compete
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on an appeals cou2024-04-25China's procuratorates, supervisory organs enhance linking mechanism to improve case handling
(Xinhua) 14:10, February 12, 2024BEIJING, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese procuratorates have worked wit2024-04-25Taiwan official calls for more exchanges
(Chinadaily.com.cn) 08:45, November 13, 2023The Taipei 101 skyscraper commands the urban landscape i2024-04-2513th National Women's Congress concludes in Beijing
(Xinhua) 10:02, October 27, 2023The 13th National Women's Congress closes at the Great Hall of the P2024-04-25Edmunds: What you need to know about wrapping your car
Gaze around the next time you’re stuck in traffic and see if you’re not surprised, maybe even a litt2024-04-25Advisory: Schedules for China's two sessions on March 4
(Xinhua) 08:24, March 04, 2024BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The following are the schedules for the s2024-04-25
atest comment