Maria Kolesnikova. Photo: currenttime
On September 4, 2024, Oleksandr Lukashenko signed a decree on the release of thirty political prisoners. This is the third such act in 2024, the previous two were signed in July and August. As before, the lists of those pardoned remain unknown, but human rights defenders have already named some names. Among those pardoned this time are Marina Kyselevich, who served a term for criticizing the government on social networks, and entrepreneur Victoria Gavrylina, who was convicted of “financing extremist activities.” The stories of those who were released earlier show that the official lists mostly remain in the shadows, as many of these people fear publicity. This is reported by the BBC.
According to new data, this time prisoners who have minor children or serious illnesses were released. Despite the third wave of dismissals, human rights defenders emphasize that Lukashenka’s regime is not getting softer, and the pressure on citizens continues. The organization “Vyasna” also stated that in August of this year, 30 people were released who had fully served their time. However, during the same period, “Vyasna” recognized five more citizens as new political prisoners.
Photo: euroradio
Deterioration of Maria Kolesnykova’s condition: threat to her life
One of the most serious threats to the Belarusian opposition remains Maria Kolesnikova’s health. Her condition has deteriorated significantly: the activist’s weight has dropped to 45 kg, and the conditions of detention are critically strict. According to her sister Tetyana Khomich, Maria does not receive the necessary medical care, suffers from a stomach ulcer and cannot eat prison food. No other food is provided instead, and her prison budget is limited — only 40 Belarusian rubles a month.
For the past year and a half, Kolesnikova has been in PKT (a cell-type facility) — one of the strictest regimes of detention. She is forced to live in a tiny cell, where the beds are lowered only at night, and there is almost no ventilation. Human rights activists and people close to Kolesnykova believe that her life is in danger, as the authorities demand that she publicly repent.
New incidents with drones in Belarus: a threat from the air
Against the backdrop of pardons and the deterioration of Kolesnikova’s condition, Belarus continues to face new challenges in the field of security. Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian Army Serhiy Frolov said that on the night of September 4-5, air defense forces shot down several drones over the territory of the country. Opposition sources claim that these were Russian drones, which probably violated the airspace of Belarus after maneuvers over Ukraine.
Similar incidents have already happened before, and the Belarusian authorities most often blame the Ukrainian side for them. In August, Minsk submitted an official complaint to the UN due to the alleged violation of airspace by Ukrainian drones.
