Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images(LONDON) A top jailed Belarus opposition leader, who became the face of its pro-democracy movement, is reportedly in intensive care after being hospitalized for an unknown reason, according to her supporters. Maria Kalesnikava was one of three women who found themselves at the head of mass street protests in 2020 that came close to toppling Belarus' long-ruling dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Kalesnikava, 39, was imprisoned after she tore up her passport to prevent Lukashenko's security forces from forcibly deporting her in 2020. She became one of Belarus' most prominent political prisoners, sentenced to 11 years in prison in September 2021 on charges of extremism and seeking to illegally seize power that were widely condemned by western countries as politically motivated. On Tuesday, an official Twitter account linked to another jailed opposition figure Viktor Babariko, tweeted that Kalesnikava was now in inte
A top jailed Belarus opposition leader, Maria Kalesnikava, is reportedly in intensive care after being hospitalized for an unknown reason, according to her supporters.
A Year After Fleeing Belarus, Veranika Tsapkala Still Battling Lukashenka s Inhumane Regime rferl.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rferl.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
What did we do last summer and fall? We walked.
We walked tens of kilometers a day along wide avenues and narrow streets, rugged terrain, and open spaces. The sun was shining for us, sometimes it was raining, a drum sounded for us, we were shown hearts, victory signs, and raised fists. We went out for a walk because we wanted to.
Alive and free people go out of step and go wherever they want. They don t need singers and leaders. They sing because they have voices. And in 2020, these voices finally began to sound.
It turned out that the leaving character does not like it when we walk. Our voices and songs make him cringe. Like vampires from movies start to sparkle in the sunlight, local ghouls begin to explode from smiles, marches, and drums.