Symbol of Defiance: The Story of Maria Kalesnikava

Maria Kalesnikava, a prominent Belarusian opposition figure, symbolized resistance against Alexander Lukashenko's regime. Imprisoned in harsh conditions, her health is deteriorating. Despite recent prisoner releases by Lukashenko, true policy change remains elusive. Western nations call for the release of all political prisoners, highlighting Kalesnikava's critical situation.

Maria Kalesnikava, known as a symbol of defiance in Belarus, became a central figure in the 2020 protests against Alexander Lukashenko. She was abducted, threatened with expulsion, and ultimately sentenced to 11 years for her activism.

Now, four years after her arrest, Kalesnikava is enduring severe conditions in prison. Her sister, Tatsiana Khomich, reports that she is being held in a tiny cell with poor sanitation, causing her health to decline drastically. Despite her plight, letters to her family are destroyed, and psychological and physical torture is suspected.

Lukashenko recently pardoned 78 political prisoners but maintains that there are none in Belarus. Critics argue that the releases are a strategy to regain favor with the European Union. Meanwhile, the West continues to demand the release of all political prisoners.

(With inputs from agencies.)