Kaleśnikava “cheerful, beautiful” – father says after meeting

November 13, Pozirk. Maryja Kaleśnikava looked “cheerful, beautiful” and her condition was not a cause for concern, her father said after yesterday’s meeting with the imprisoned politician at the Homiel-based penal colony’s medical unit.

Alaskandar Kaleśnikaŭ said he had told his daughter about some “window of opportunity thanks to which our meeting took place,” noting that his daughter will think about something, but would not elaborate. The meeting lasted one hour and a half.

The video comment was posted by Raman Pratasievič, a former journalist turned pro-government influencer, who said in another video comment that he had petitioned the Belarusian ruler to arrange the father’s visit.

“We are very glad that our father was able to meet with Masha. This is a big joy for our family. Most importantly, Masha is alive! . . . We hope that it will be possible to stay in touch with her,” Taćciana Chomič, her sister, said in a Facebook post.

Kaleśnikava, whose resolute stance against the government has earned her significant admiration from opposition groups during the 2020 protests against election fraud, was held incommunicado from February 2023 and until that meeting. It took place three weeks after Alaksandar Łukašenka told BBC he might consider a pardon request from her, if she submitted it. He also claimed that her loved ones might not be interested in seeing her.

A prominent politician, Kalśnikava became a symbol of resistance after being arrested during a wave of protests. When security forces attempted to kick her out of the country, she refused, tearing her passport to pieces at a Belarusian-Ukrainian border checkpoint. In September 2021, she was sentenced to 11 years in prison.

Also read: Łukašenka claims he is willing to consider pardon for Kaleśnikava