Maria Kolesnikova Appears in First Photo in Over a Year

Maria Kalesnikava, a prominent Belarusian opposition leader, has appeared in photographs for the first time in over 20 months, meeting with her father in a prison hospital. The images, shared by Roman Protasevich, a former opposition journalist who now collaborates with the regime, have raised hopes among her supporters, although concerns remain regarding her health and the conditions of her imprisonment. Kalesnikava, serving an 11-year sentence for conspiracy to seize power, has been subjected to harsh treatment, including isolation and inadequate medical care after suffering a serious illness. Her sister, Tatsiana Khomich, has expressed worries for her well-being amidst the regime's ongoing repression of political dissent. While the release of the photos is seen as a possible result of international pressure, analysts caution that it may be a strategic move by President Alexander Lukashenko to project a more humane image. Kalesnikava remains one of over 1,000 political prisoners in Belarus, underscoring the regime's crackdown on opposition figures.