Maria Kalesnikava

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In this Eastern Slavic naming convention, the patronymic is Aleksandrovna / Alyaksandrauna / Alaksandraŭna and the family name is Kalesnikava.

Maria Kalesnikava
Марыя Калеснікава
Мария Колесникова
Maria Kalesnikava 2020-08.png
Kalesnikava in 2020
Born (1982-04-24) 24 April 1982 (age 39)
Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union (now Belarus)
CitizenshipBelarus
Alma materBelarusian State Academy of Music
State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart
OccupationFlutist, political activist, conductor, music teacher

Maria Kalesnikava[a] (Marya Alyaksandrauna Kalesnikava,[b] Belarusian: Марыя Аляксандраўна Калеснікава, IPA: [maˈrɨja alʲakˈsandrawna kaˈlʲɛsʲnʲikava]; Maria Aleksandrovna Kolesnikova, Russian: Мария Александровна Колесникова, IPA: [mɐˈrʲijə ɐlʲɪkˈsandrəvnə kɐˈlʲesʲnʲɪkəvə]; born 24 April 1982) is a Belarusian musician and political activist. Leader of Viktar Babaryka's team,[1] she was also a member of the presidium of the Coordination Council formed during the 2020 Belarusian protests in opposition to the rule of Alexander Lukashenko.[2]

On 11 September 2020, Amnesty International recognized Kalesnikava as a prisoner of conscience.[3] She was awarded an International Women of Courage Award in 2021.[4]

On 6 September 2021, Kalesnikava was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony for her political activity.[5][6]

Early life and musical career[]

Kalesnikava was born on 24 April 1982 in Minsk. She has one sibling, a sister named Tatsiana.[7][8]

At the age of 17, Kalesnikava started teaching the flute at a gymnasium (private school) in Minsk. She also played the flute at the National Academic Concert Orchestra of the Republic of Belarus under the direction of Mikhail Finberg. Kalesnikava graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Music as a flutist and conductor.[7] At the age of 25, she began learning to play early music instruments at the State University of Music and Performing Arts in Stuttgart, Germany.[9] She got two master's degrees - in Early Music and Neue Musik - in 2012.[10] In the 2010s, Kalesnikava performed at concerts and was actively involved in organizing international cultural projects in Belarus and Germany, including a series of lectures under the title "Music Lessons for Adults".

In the 2010s, Kalesnikava organized cultural projects in Germany and Belarus.[11][12] In 2017, she co-founded Artemp, a creative association.[9] Starting in 2019, she served as the art director of the OK16 culture club in Minsk.[13]

Political career[]

Kalesnikava campaigning for Tsikhanouskaya in Babruysk on 25 July 2020

In May 2020, Kalesnikava became Viktar Babaryka's presidential campaign manager in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.[14] Babaryka was arrested in June and banned from running for presidency. In mid-July 2020, Kalesnikava and Veronika Tsepkalo joined the campaign of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.[15][16][17] Kalesnikava actively participated in numerous rallies in Belarus; she encouraged Belarusian citizens - factory workers, officials, diplomats, law enforcement officers, media employees, etc. - to take part in the protests.[18][19][20][21]

On 19 August 2020, Kalesnikava joined the 7-member presidium of Coordination Council.[22]

On 20 August, Alexander Konyuk, the Prosecutor General of Belarus, initiated criminal proceedings against the members of the Coordination Council under Article 361 of the Belarusian Criminal Code, on the grounds of attempting to seize state power and harming national security.[23][24]

In early September 2020, Kalesnikava announced the formation of a new political party, Razam, which would operate independently from the Coordination Council.[25]

Imprisonment[]

On 7 September 2020, Kalesnikava was kidnapped by "masked men" in Minsk.[26][27] Her family filed a missing person report.[citation needed]

On 8 September 2020, Kalesnikava was detained at the Alexandrovka border crossing with Ukraine.[28] There are conflicting reports of what happened at the border. A spokesperson for the State Border Committee claimed that Kalesnikava had been trying to cross into Ukraine at 4 am with the help of her two associates, Anton Radniankou and Ivan Krautsou.[29] Other sources report that she was detained after tearing up her passport as the authorities tried to force her to cross the border.[30][28]

The next day, Kalesnikava's father, Aliaksandar Kalesnikau, stated that she had been jailed at a detention centre in Minsk.[31][32]

On 12 September, Kalesnikava was transferred from Minsk to a temporary detention facility in Zhodino.[33]

On 16 September, the Investigative Committee of Belarus charged Kalesnikava with "actions aimed at undermining Belarusian national security" using the media and the Internet. She faces up to five years in prison if convicted.[34]

On 10 October 2020, Kalesnikava's attorney Aliaksandar Pylchanka announced that Lukashenko requested a meeting with her to discuss changes to the Constitution, to which she refused in an expression of solidarity with other imprisoned dissidents.[35]

On 8 November 2020, the press office of the Babaryka campaign announced that investigators had extended Kalesnikava's detention until 8 January 2021.[36]

On 6 January 2021, the Coordination Council announced that investigators had extended Kalesnikava's pre-trial detention until 8 March. She faces a sentence of up to five years if convicted.[37][38]

On 12 February, Kalesnikava and attorney Maxim Znak were charged with "conspiracy to seize state power in an unconstitutional manner" and "establishing and leading an extremist organization".[39] Her attorney Liudmila Kazak was stripped of her license to practice law on 19 February by the Belarus Ministry of Justice.[40]

On 9 March, Viktar Babaryko's social media reported that Kalesnikava's pre-trial detention had been extended through 8 May.[41] Her attorney Ilya Salei is under house arrest through 16 April.[42]

Starting 4 August 2021, after almost 11 months in custody, Kalesnikava and Maxim Znak stood trial behind closed doors in the Minsk Regional Court. They faced up to 12 years in prison. Maria pleaded non guilty and called any charges against her and Znak 'absurd'. Throughout the investigation and trial, the details of the charges were not publicly disclosed. The attorneys of Kalesnikava and Znak were under a nondisclosure agreement.[43][44][45] On 6 September 2021, Kalesnikava was sentenced to 11 years in a penal colony.[46]

Reactions to Kalesnikava arrest[]

  • European Union The European Commission condemned the 7 September arrest, describing it as unacceptable.[47]
  • Germany Germany demanded clarity on Kalesnikava's whereabouts and called for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.[48]
  • Lithuania Lithuania called Kalesnikava's abduction a disgrace, compared it to something that Stalin-era secret police would have done, and demanded her immediate release.[49]
  • Poland Poland denounced Kalesnikava's abduction as contemptible and called on immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus.[50][51]
  • United Kingdom The United Kingdom expressed serious concern for Kalesnikava's welfare and said that her release must be given the highest priority.[52]
  • United States The United States expressed concern about the attempt to expel Kalesnikava by the Belarusian authorities.[53]
  • Amnesty International recognized Kalesnikava as a prisoner of conscience and demanded her immediate release.[54]
  • Kosovo Kosovo's speaker of the Assembly, Vjosa Osmani, along with 9 other members of the parliament, signed a letter demanding the immediate release of Kalesnikava.[55][56]

Awards[]

  • 2020: Sakharov Prize (European Parliament, Prize for Freedom of Thought)[57][58]
  • On 8 March (International Women's Day) 2021, Kalesnikava was presented with the International Women of Courage Award from the US Secretary of State, Tony Blinken. The ceremony was virtual due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and included an address by First Lady, Jill Biden. After the award ceremony all of the fourteen awardees were able to take part in a virtual exchange as part an International Visitor Leadership Program.[59]
  • 2021: Lew-Kopelew-Preis (Germany, peace and human rights award)[60]
  • 2021: Stuttgarter Friedenspreis (Germany, award for courageous struggle against the autocratic regime of Alexander Lukashenko)[61]
  • 2021: Fritz-Csoklich-Preis (Austria)[62]
  • 2021: Menschenrechtspreis der Gerhart und Renate Baum-Stiftung (Germany, human rights award)[63]

Notes[]

  1. ^ This is the name she chose to be identified with. Note that the first name (Maria) is Russian, and the surname (Kalesnikava) is Belarusian. It is unknown whether she prefers the Russian patronymic (Aleksandrovna) or one of the two Belarusian patronymics (Alyaksandrauna and Alaksandraŭna).
  2. ^ Also Maryja Alaksandraŭna Kalesnikava in the Belarusian Latin alphabet.

References[]

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  2. ^ "Сябры Каардынацыйнай Рады" [Members of the Coordinating Council]. rada.vision (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  3. ^ "Заявление. Беларусь: "Похищают лучших из нас". Произвольные аресты и принудительные высылки из страны ведущих оппозиционеров". eurasia.amnesty.org (in Russian). 11 September 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2020.
  4. ^ "2021 International Women of Courage Award Recipients Announced". US Department of State. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Belarus opposition leader jailed in Lukashenko 'purge'". The Guardian. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Belarusian opposition leader smiles as she is sentenced to 11 years in prison for challenging Lukashenko". The Telegraph. 6 September 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b Soŭś, Hanna (4 August 2020). "Марыя Калесьнікава пра мову, гвалт, шопінг утрох і парады Алексіевіч". Радыё Свабода (in Belarusian). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Maria Kalesnikava". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Гульня ў класіку – інтэрв'ю з Марыяй Калеснікавай" [A game in the classics - an interview with Maria Kolesnikova]. 34mag.net (in Russian). 21 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  10. ^ "Maria Kalesnikava : TRIO vis-à-vis". triovisavis.com (in German). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  11. ^ "Музыкант и серфингист. Кто такая Мария Колесникова — представитель штаба Виктора Бабарико" [Musician and surfer. Who is Maria Kolesnikova - Staff representative Victor Babariko]. TUT.BY (in Russian). 20 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  12. ^ "Кто такая Мария Колесникова — представитель штаба Виктора Бабарико. Что о ней известно?" [Who is Maria Kolesnikova - Staff representative Victor Babariko. What is known about her?]. belaruspartisan.by (in Russian). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. ^ Eremina, Ekaterina (27 September 2019). "Как завод превратился в культурный центр | belmarket.by" [How the factory turned into a cultural center]. www.belmarket.by. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
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  33. ^ "Марию Колесникову перевели из минского СИЗО в Жодино". Vedomosti (in Russian). 12 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
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  35. ^ "Мария Колесникова отказалась участвовать во встрече с Лукашенко" (in Russian). Interfax.ru. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
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  38. ^ Deutsche Welle (9 January 2021). "Лукашенко оставил Колесникову под арестом: близкие о ее судьбе". YouTube (in Russian). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  39. ^ Mylnikov, Pavel (12 February 2021). "В Беларуси предъявлены новые обвинения Марии Колесниковой и Максиму Знаку" [New charges brought against Maria Kolesnikova and Maxim Znak in Belarus] (in Russian). Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  40. ^ Tolkacheva, Elena (9 March 2021). "Мария Колесникова остается в СИЗО до 8 мая" [Maria Kolesnikova remains in jail until 8 May]. news.tut.by (in Russian). Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  41. ^ Tolkacheva, Elena (9 March 2021). "Максим Знак остается в СИЗО до 9 мая" [Maxim Znak remains in jail until 9 May]. news.tut.by (in Russian). Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  42. ^ ""Продление незаконно". Адвокат Колесниковой Илья Салей остается под домашним арестом до апреля" ["Renewal is illegal." Kolesnikova's lawyer Ilya Salei remains under house arrest until April]. news.tut.by (in Russian). 3 March 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
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  51. ^ Przydacz, Marcin [@marcin_przydacz] (7 September 2020). "The kidnapping of M. Kalesnikava is unacceptable. Treating opposition leaders in such an unlawful & contemptible manner is below any standards. We expect that all political prisoners in #Belarus are promptly released from custody. Dialogue is the solution, not force!" (Tweet). Retrieved 8 September 2020 – via Twitter.
  52. ^ Sky News (7 September 2020). "Belarus protests: UK says release of 'abducted' Maria Kolesnikova must be 'highest priority'". Yahoo! News UK. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  53. ^ "US Considering Sanctions Against Belarus After 'Unjustified Violence and Repression' Pompeo Says". Voice of America. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  54. ^ "BELARUS: FREE OPPOSITION LEADER MARYIA KALESNIKAVA". Amnesty International. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  55. ^ Osmani, Vjosa [@VjosaOsmaniMP] (4 October 2020). "Together with 9 other Kosovo MP colleagues, we joined Members of U.S. Congress @WilliamKeating, @Marcy_Kaptur and more than 300 transatlantic legislators from 30+ countries, in signing a letter to the illegitimate President of Belarus, #Lukashenko..." (Tweet). Retrieved 4 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  56. ^ Osmani, Vjosa [@VjosaOsmaniMP] (4 October 2020). "...demanding the immediate release of opposition leader Marya Kalesnikava and all other political prisoners. #Kosovo stands with the people of Belarus and supports efforts against human rights offenders in Belarus. @HouseForeign @EP_President" (Tweet). Retrieved 4 October 2020 – via Twitter.
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  60. ^ "Lew-Kopelew-Preise gehen nach Belarus und Russland". Zeit Online. 16 April 2021.
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  62. ^ "Fritz-Csoklich-Preis: Auszeichnung für Frauen-Trio". Die Presse. 16 July 2021.
  63. ^ "Belarus-Aktivistin Maria Kalesnikowa ausgezeichnet". SWR. 8 February 2021.

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