Urgent Concerns Over the Health of Belarusian Opposition Leader Maria Kolesnikova in Prison

October 14, 2024

It has been over 18 months since Maria Kolesnikova’s family last had contact with the imprisoned Belarusian opposition activist, raising alarming concerns for her well-being. Reports from fellow inmates indicate that Kolesnikova has been pleading for medical assistance from her cramped and unsanitary cell at a penal colony near Gomel, where she is serving an 11-year sentence for her opposition to the authoritarian regime of President Alexander Lukashenko. Her father, Alexander Kolesnikov, recently expressed his deep concern during a phone interview from Minsk, sharing his failed attempts to visit her. The last time he sought to see his daughter, he was informed by the warden that her silence indicated a lack of desire for communication, a claim Kolesnikov firmly refutes. “If she doesn’t call or doesn’t write, that means she doesn’t want to,” the warden allegedly stated, adding to the family’s feeling of helplessness.

Kolesnikova, a prominent figure during the mass protests that erupted after the disputed presidential election in August 2020, has become a symbol of defiance against Lukashenko’s regime. After facing attempts to deport her, she bravely tore up her passport and returned to Belarus, where she was subsequently arrested and convicted of charges including conspiracy to seize power. Former prisoners, including one named Natalya, have reported that Kolesnikova has been notably absent from discussions and has not been heard speaking to guards for six months. Concerns about her health escalated after she was hospitalized for a perforated ulcer last November, with fellow inmates suggesting that medical attention was often delayed, leaving Kolesnikova’s health at grave risk. Her sister, Tatiana Khomich, has received disturbing reports indicating that Kolesnikova has lost significant weight and is enduring intolerable conditions in prison. “They are slowly killing Maria,” Khomich stated, emphasizing that the current situation is critical.

Despite international attention and appeals for her release, Kolesnikova remains one of around 1,300 political prisoners in Belarus. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has repeatedly urged Belarusian authorities to take urgent action to protect her and others similarly imprisoned. As pressure mounts from human rights organizations, the Belarusian government remains silent on the issue, with Lukashenko denying the existence of political prisoners. Nevertheless, in a puzzling move, he recently released 115 prisoners with political ties, seemingly to ease tensions with Western nations. Analysts suggest that this could be a strategy to improve relations with the European Union ahead of the upcoming presidential election, yet many remain skeptical. Activists and family members stress that meaningful change is still far from reach as the regime continues to repress dissent, signaling that the situation for Kolesnikova and other opposition figures remains dire.

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