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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Andrew Roth

Belarusian flautist’s fate unknown as hundreds of activists remain in prison

Maria Kolesnikova gestures during a rally in Minsk, Belarus, on 30 August 2020.
Maria Kolesnikova gestures during a rally in Minsk, Belarus, on 30 August 2020. Photograph: AP

It has been more than a year since relatives and friends have heard from Maria Kolesnikova. The Belarusian activist is one of 1,416 political prisoners behind bars as part of a crackdown that has maintained pace this year before parliamentary elections this weekend.

“The last letter from [Maria] was received on 14 February 2023,” her sister wrote last week. “Since then, which is exactly a year ago, we have not received any reliable information about her.”

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