Maria Kalesnikava

Maria Kalesnikava[lower-alpha 1] (Marya Alyaksandrauna Kalesnikava,[lower-alpha 2] 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. She is a member of the presidium of the Coordination Council formed during the 2020 Belarusian protests in opposition to the rule of Alexander Lukashenko.[1] On 11 September 2020, Amnesty International recognized Kalesnikava as a prisoner of conscience.[2]

In this Eastern Slavic name, the patronymic is Aleksandrovna / Alyaksandrauna / Alaksandraŭna and the family name is Kalesnikava.
Maria Kalesnikava
Марыя Калеснікава
Мария Колесникова
Born (1982-04-24) 24 April 1982
Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union (now Belarus)
NationalityBelarusian
Alma materBelarusian State Academy of Music
State University of Music and Performing Arts Stuttgart
OccupationFlutist, political activist, conductor, music teacher

Early life and musical career

Kalesnikava was born on 24 April 1982 in Minsk into a family of engineers. She has one sibling, a sister named Tatsiana.[3][4]

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.[3] 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.[5] She got two Master's degrees - in Early Music and Neue Musik - in 2012.[6] 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.[7][8] In 2017, she co-founded Artemp, a creative association.[5] Starting in 2019, she served as the art director of the OK16 culture club in Minsk.[9]

Political career

In May 2020, Kalesnikava became Viktar Babaryka's presidential campaign manager in the 2020 Belarusian presidential election.[10] 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.[11][12][13] 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.[14][15][16][17]

On 19 August 2020, Kalesnikava joined the 7-member presidium of Tsikhanouskaya's Coordination Council.[18]

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.[19][20]

In early September 2020, Kalesnikava announced the formation of a new political party, Razam, which would operate independently from the Coordination Council.[21]

Imprisonment

On 7 September 2020, Kalesnikava was kidnapped by "masked men" in Minsk.[22][23] Her family filed a missing person report.

On 8 September 2020, Kalesnikava was detained at the Alexandrovka border crossing with Ukraine.[24] 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 Rodnenkov and Ivan Kravtsov.[25] Other sources report that she was detained after tearing up her passport as the authorities tried to force her to cross the border.[26][24]

The next day, Kalesnikava's father, Alexander Kolesnikov, stated that she had been jailed at a detention centre in Minsk.[27][28]

On 12 September, Kalesnikava was transferred from Minsk to a temporary detention facility in Zhodino.[29]

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.[30]

On 10 October 2020, Kalesnikava's attorney Alexander Pylchenko 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.[31]

On 8 November 2020, the press office of the Babaryka campaign announced that investigators had extended Kalesnikava's detention until 8 January 2021.[32]

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.[33][34]

Reactions to Kalesnikava arrest
  • The European Commission condemned the 7 September arrest, describing it as unacceptable.[35]
  • Germany demanded clarity on Kalesnikava's whereabouts and called for the release of all political prisoners in Belarus.[36]
  • Lithuania called Kalesnikava's abduction a disgrace, compared it to something that Stalin-era secret police would have done, and demanded her immediate release.[37]
  • Poland denounced Kalesnikava's abduction as contemptible and called on immediate release of all political prisoners in Belarus.[38][39]
  • The United Kingdom expressed serious concern for Kalesnikava's welfare and said that her release must be given the highest priority.[40]
  • The United States expressed concern about the attempt to expel Kalesnikava by the Belarusian authorities.[41]
  • Amnesty International recognized Kalesnikava as a prisoner of conscience and demanded her immediate release.[42]
  • 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.[43][44]

References
  1. "Сябры Каардынацыйнай Рады" [Members of the Coordinating Council]. rada.vision (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 21 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  2. "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.
  3. Soŭś, Hanna (4 August 2020). "Марыя Калесьнікава пра мову, гвалт, шопінг утрох і парады Алексіевіч". Радыё Свабода (in Belarusian). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  4. "Maria Kalesnikava". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
  5. "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.
  6. "Maria Kalesnikava : TRIO vis-à-vis". triovisavis.com (in German). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  7. "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.
  8. "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.
  9. 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.
  10. "'Any Belarusian could replace me' Maria Kolesnikova — the last member standing of the opposition 'women's triumvirate' — says she's not going anywhere". Meduza. 11 August 2020. Archived from the original on 17 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  11. Rozovsky, Liza (28 August 2020). "The flute player who's showing Belarusians how to topple a tyrant". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. Wesolowsky, Tony (23 July 2020). "Women Lead The Charge Against Belarus's Longtime Ruler". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  13. "Belarus opposition activist Maria Kalesnikava: change 'worth fighting for'". Channel 4 News. 24 August 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  14. Евгений Шуваев (16 August 2020). "Соратница Тихановской Мария Колесникова приехала на митинг оппозиции в Минске". Известия (in Russian). Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  15. "Соратница Тихановской Мария Колесникова прибыла на митинг оппозиции в Минске". ТАСС. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  16. "Официальное заявление штаба Виктора Бабарико".
  17. "Протесты в Беларуси: день восьмой. Онлайн". Новая газета - Novayagazeta.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  18. "Структура Координационного Совета". rada.vision (in Russian). Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  19. "МАЯ КРАІНА БЕЛАРУСЬ". Telegram (in Russian). 20 August 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  20. Irfan, Muhammad (20 August 2020). "Belarus Opens Criminal Probe Against Oppositions Coordination Council- Prosecutor General". UrduPoint. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  21. "Opposition in Belarus gründet neue Partei" [Opposition in Belarus founds new party]. tagesschau.de (in German). 1 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  22. "Belarus protests: Maria Kolesnikova 'detained by masked men'". BBC News. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  23. Harding, Luke (7 September 2020). "Belarus opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova 'snatched from street' in Minsk". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  24. Aris, Ben (8 September 2020). "#BREAKING Belarus authorities try to forcibly expel Kolesnikova, who rips up passport and is detained at Ukraine border". Berlin: bne IntelliNews. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  25. "Belarus opposition figure detained at Ukraine border". Minsk: France 24. Agence France-Presse. 8 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  26. Browne, Gareth (8 September 2020). Written at Minsk. "Maria Kolesnikova 'ripped up passport' during deportation attempt". The Times. London. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  27. "Police in Belarus jail Maria Kolesnikova, the last opposition leader who was still free and in the country". Meduza. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  28. Written at Minsk. "Belarusian opposition member Kolesnikova arrested in Minsk". Moscow: TASS. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  29. "Марию Колесникову перевели из минского СИЗО в Жодино". Vedomosti (in Russian). 12 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  30. Vasilyeva, Nataliya; Crisp, James (17 September 2020). "Belarus protest leader Maria Kolesnikova charged with incitement to undermine national security". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group Limited. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  31. "Мария Колесникова отказалась участвовать во встрече с Лукашенко" (in Russian). Interfax.ru. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  32. "Belarus Extends Pretrial Detention Of Opposition Figure Kalesnikava". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 6 November 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2020.
  33. "Belarus Extends Pretrial Detention Of Opposition Figure Kalesnikava". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  34. Deutsche Welle (9 January 2021). "Лукашенко оставил Колесникову под арестом: близкие о ее судьбе". YouTube (in Russian). Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  35. "Germany seeks answers over Belarus opposition figure 'kidnap'". Channel News Asia. AFP. 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  36. Davlashyan, Naira (7 September 2020). "Belarus: Germany demands answers on 'kidnapped' dissident Kolesnikova". euronews. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  37. Osborn, Andrew; Vasilyeva, Maria (7 September 2020). "Belarusian protest leader disappears after being detained by masked men". Irish Independent. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  38. ""Działania poniżej jakichkolwiek standardów". Wiceminister spraw zagranicznych o porwaniu Kalesnikawej" (in Polish). Polskie Radio 24. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  39. 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.
  40. 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.
  41. "US Considering Sanctions Against Belarus After 'Unjustified Violence and Repression' Pompeo Says". Voice of America. 9 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  42. "BELARUS: FREE OPPOSITION LEADER MARYIA KALESNIKAVA". Amnesty International. 23 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  43. 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.
  44. 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.

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.
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