One of the leaders of the Belarusian opposition and a member of the Presidium of the Coordination Council, Maria Kolesnikova, was transferred from Zhodino to the Minsk detention center on Volodarsky Street. This is reported by the Telegram channel of the former presidential candidate of Belarus Viktor Babariko.
At about 02:00 am on January 8, Kolesnikova was woken up, shown the order for transfer and convoyed to Minsk. It was a “romantic night train ride”, she said.
The reason for the transfer is being specified, Tut.by reports. “We are definitely still very far from the trial. It is not known when the investigation will end. Therefore, this is definitely not the case. Maria was not given the reason for the transfer either. I hope to find out from the investigator tomorrow – investigative actions are planned,” said lawyer Lyudmila Kazak.
On December 21, the General Prosecutor’s Office of Belarus opened a criminal case against Kolesnikova and other oppositionists under the article on the creation of an extremist group.
In early September, unknown persons put Kolesnikova into a minibus in the center of Minsk and drove away. The next day, the authorities announced that she had tried to flee to Ukraine, but was detained. Kolesnikova said that the security forces threatened to take her out of Belarus “in parts” and she had to tear her passport to stay at home.