Unidentified terrorists kidnap Belarus protest leader
The abduction of Kolesnikova looked like an attempt by authorities to derail the opposition’s Coordination Council and intimidate its members.
Belarus protest leader, Maria Kolesnikova, has been reportedly kidnapped by unidentified terrorists after mass anti-gov’t march.
It was reported on Monday September 7, 2020, that the protest leader was detained in central Minsk as police arrest demonstrators.
The development on Monday came hours after security forces arrested 633 protesters following a mass anti-government rally on Sunday, the latest since the disputed August election.
Police in Minsk said they had not arrested Kolesnikova, according to news agency.
Kolesnikova is the last one left in Belarus of three female politicians who joined forces before the August 9 presidential election to challenge longtime leader Alexander Lukashenko.
A vocal critic of Lukashenko, she has played an important role in the country’s post-election political crisis, which has seen weeks of mass protests and strikes by people who accuse the strongman of rigging his re-election, something he denies.
Another leading activist, Olga Kovalkova, arrived in Poland on Saturday, saying she had been told she would face arrest if she stayed in Belarus.
“Hopefully she will be released as soon as possible. I really worry about her,” she said.
The abduction of Kolesnikova looked like an attempt by authorities to derail the opposition’s Coordination Council and intimidate its members.
