This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/515353-maria-kolesnikova-charged-belarus-unrest/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| High-profile Belarusian protest leader Maria Kolesnikova charged with conspiracy to seize state power & setting up extremist group | High-profile Belarusian protest leader Maria Kolesnikova charged with conspiracy to seize state power & setting up extremist group |
| (7 months later) | |
| One of Belarus’ most prominent opposition figures, Maria Kolesnikova, is facing criminal charges for her alleged role in organizing long-running demonstrations against the country’s embattled leader, Alexander Lukashenko. | One of Belarus’ most prominent opposition figures, Maria Kolesnikova, is facing criminal charges for her alleged role in organizing long-running demonstrations against the country’s embattled leader, Alexander Lukashenko. |
| That's according to the headquarters of jailed former presidential hopeful Viktor Babariko, where Kolesnikova previously worked as a political adviser. On Friday, her supporters issued a statement saying she and another imprisoned activist, Maksim Znak, had been charged with “conspiracy to seize state power in an unconstitutional manner.” | That's according to the headquarters of jailed former presidential hopeful Viktor Babariko, where Kolesnikova previously worked as a political adviser. On Friday, her supporters issued a statement saying she and another imprisoned activist, Maksim Znak, had been charged with “conspiracy to seize state power in an unconstitutional manner.” |
| Both are also facing charges of “establishing and leading an extremist organization.” The pair had previously been charged for publicly encouraging people to participate in mass events that, prosecutors say, jeopardized national security. | Both are also facing charges of “establishing and leading an extremist organization.” The pair had previously been charged for publicly encouraging people to participate in mass events that, prosecutors say, jeopardized national security. |
| “We and the defense of Maria and Maxim are sure: this is an exclusively political persecution. The accusations have no legal basis,” Babariko’s allies said. | “We and the defense of Maria and Maxim are sure: this is an exclusively political persecution. The accusations have no legal basis,” Babariko’s allies said. |
| Kolesnikova was part of a trio of women who led rallies across the country in the run-up to Belarus’ presidential election last summer, and is the only one of them who is still in the country. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who stood as the candidate against Lukashenko, has since fled to neighboring Lithuania and is working with EU leaders to sanction her native country. The third woman, Veronika Tsepkalo, first left for Moscow and later moved with her family to Latvia. | Kolesnikova was part of a trio of women who led rallies across the country in the run-up to Belarus’ presidential election last summer, and is the only one of them who is still in the country. Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who stood as the candidate against Lukashenko, has since fled to neighboring Lithuania and is working with EU leaders to sanction her native country. The third woman, Veronika Tsepkalo, first left for Moscow and later moved with her family to Latvia. |
| However, Kolesnikova reportedly tore up her passport and threw it from the window of a vehicle to avoid efforts to deport her to Ukraine. Instead, she was arrested and has been jailed since September last year. | However, Kolesnikova reportedly tore up her passport and threw it from the window of a vehicle to avoid efforts to deport her to Ukraine. Instead, she was arrested and has been jailed since September last year. |
| Mass protests broke out in Belarus in August, when Lukashenko declared he had been re-elected as president in a poll that the opposition, and many international observers, say was rigged. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets since then to demand a new vote. | Mass protests broke out in Belarus in August, when Lukashenko declared he had been re-elected as president in a poll that the opposition, and many international observers, say was rigged. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets since then to demand a new vote. |
| Lukashenko has repeatedly said he will not stand down or call new elections until a new constitution is in place. However, on Thursday, he said that his “main condition for leaving power is peace and order in the country and no protests.” The constitution, he says, will be ready within a year. | Lukashenko has repeatedly said he will not stand down or call new elections until a new constitution is in place. However, on Thursday, he said that his “main condition for leaving power is peace and order in the country and no protests.” The constitution, he says, will be ready within a year. |
| Like this story? Share it with a friend! | Like this story? Share it with a friend! |
| Dear readers and commenters, | |
| We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system. | |
| Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments, | |
| RT Team. |