February 8, Pozirk. Maryja Kaleśnikava was transferred from the penal colony’s internal prison (PKT) to barracks in late December, jailed regime opponent Viktar Babaryka’s team said on Telegram yesterday.
Taćciana Chomič, Kaleśnikava’s sister and co-founder of the Association of Relatives and Former Political Prisoners, tweeted that she hopes that the Kaleśnikava will be released soon.
One month before the transfer, she was allowed to see her father after being held incommunicado for more than a year and a half.
In October, Belarusian leader Alaksandar Łukašenka said he would consider a petition for pardon from Maryja Kaleśnikava, if she submitted it.
In September 2021, a Minsk court sentenced Kaleśnikava to 11 years in prison. She is serving her sentence in Homiel.
At the time of the 2020 presidential election, Kaleśnikava was Babaryka’s campaign manager and spokeswoman. After his arrest, she joined Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja’s team and became a member of the united campaign, whose third frontwoman was Vieranika Capkała, the wife of disqualified presidential hopeful Valeryj Capkała.
In November 2022, Kaleśnikava underwent emergency surgery at a Homiel hospital, where she was taken in serious condition. The prisoner was diagnosed with peritonitis, a complication of a perforated ulcer.
