The Struggle of Maria Kalesnikava: A Fight for Freedom

The striking figure of Maria Kalesnikava, with her red lips, white hair, and leather jacket, evokes memories of a punkish Marilyn Monroe in vintage photographs. Instead of seeking fame over a subway grate, this Belarusian-born flautist and political activist made a name for herself both in orchestras abroad and on the frontlines of protests back home, where she fought ardently for fair and democratic elections in her native Belarus. However, her younger sister, Tatsiana Khomich, recently shared with Euronews the heartbreaking reality faced by Kalesnikava in Correctional Colony No. 4 in Gomel. The guards at the facility have attempted to convince her that she has been forgotten — that her story has faded from public consciousness. “When Maria inquired, ‘Where are my letters? Where are my communications and packages and phone calls?’ she was told, ‘Everyone has forgotten about you,’” Khomich recounted with anguish. “It is crucial that we spread the word about Maria, to share the truth about her conditions, and to highlight that she is enduring hunger in the heart of Europe.”

Life Before Detention

In 2020, Kalesnikava was already a celebrated flautist in both Belarus and Germany when she took the helm of the campaign for Viktar Babaryka, the presumed opposition leader. Tragically, Babaryka, a former banker and philanthropist, was arrested before he could officially challenge the long-standing authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, in the controversial presidential elections. The autocrat’s sixth term, now extending over three decades, ignited violent protests and a ruthless crackdown on political opposition, resulting in the arrest of an estimated 35,000 individuals. Many, including European Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, condemned the elections as fraudulent and demanded the immediate release of those who had been detained.

Currently, Babaryka, Kalesnikava, and approximately 1,400 other political prisoners remain imprisoned in Belarusian penal colonies and prisons in the aftermath of these elections. According to a report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights published in April, Belarusian detention centers are rife with human rights violations, including torture and gender-based violence. Reports indicate that Babaryka was hospitalized due to the severe beatings he endured. The EU diplomatic service EEAS expressed concern over his deteriorating health and reiterated calls for the release of all political prisoners, including Babaryka. It has been four years since Kalesnikava was arrested and sentenced on charges that over 20 human rights organizations have denounced as “bogus.” While the focus may be on Babaryka, Khomich is steadfast in advocating for her sister.

Kalesnikava’s Situation Worsens

During her four years of detention in Gomel, Amnesty International has alleged that Kalesnikava has been “ill-treated” by the penal colony administration, leading to a deterioration of her health. Khomich recounted that she observed this decline during their monitored 10-minute video calls, which occur every two months. “In one video call, she appeared strong, but there were subtle changes in her demeanor,” Khomich, a former business analyst who has become a full-time human rights advocate, noted. “Maria has lost significant weight; she now weighs only 45 kilograms, having lost at least 20 kilograms since her arrest.”

However, communication was severed when Kalesnikava was transferred to a “punishment-type cell” in mid-March. The Minsk-based Viasna Human Rights Centre reports that those confined in these cold, dark rooms are permitted only basic necessities—such as a toothbrush and a bar of soap—and are subjected to total solitary confinement. “Conditions in the punishment cell are extremely harsh and can be classified as torture,” Viasna stated online. Khomich revealed that her sister is prohibited from reading books, accessing news, or communicating with her family or lawyer. Her daily exercise is limited to 30-minute walks in a “small” enclosed area. “There is no sunlight or sky visible,” Khomich explained. The only updates Khomich receives about her sister’s condition come from whispers relayed by recently released inmates scattered across Europe.

What’s Next?

Khomich’s connection to music has been irrevocably altered by her sister’s 11-year prison sentence. Each time she attends a concert featuring a flute ensemble, she is overwhelmed with emotion, as it reminds her of Kalesnikava. “It is painful,” she confessed. Yet, rather than succumbing to despair, Khomich has channeled her emotions into advocating for Kalesnikava’s release. She believes that exerting pressure on European countries and leaders to negotiate prisoner swaps—either publicly or discreetly—could lead to successful outcomes.

Recently, Lukashenko’s pardoning of 30 prisoners convicted for their roles in the 2020 political protests has instilled a sense of optimism in Khomich. “For a long time, it seemed impossible for people to be released from political prisons,” she reflected. “This also gives us hope that the deadlock can be broken and, eventually, Maria will also be released.”

Allies in Other Corners

Inna Kavalionak leads the advocacy platform Politzek, an organization established in 2020 in response to the presidential election and the subsequent repression. The organization’s mission is to ensure that political prisoners are not forgotten while actively lobbying for their release. Kavalionak, a former theater producer turned professional activist, met Kalesnikava in 2018 in Minsk, prior to their political journeys. “She radiated brightness, like the sun entering a room,” Kavalionak recalled. Years later, both women became involved in Babaryka’s campaign, marking the beginning of their activism. Although Kavalionak was detained by national authorities for her participation in the election protests, she was released but later forced to flee Belarus, where she remains today.

Four years later, Kavalionak feels a profound responsibility to advocate for those who remain imprisoned. “Their suffering is already evident in the colonies. Our focus should be on the people,” she asserted. Despite the EU, the US, and other Western allies refusing to recognize Lukashenko as the legitimate president, the Belarusian leader, dubbed “Europe’s last dictator,” has declared his intention to run for another term in the 2025 presidential elections. In February, the 70-year-old stated that he would “do it the way it should be done” for the eastern European nation.

Even if the prospects of democracy seem bleak—with staunch opposition figures like Babaryka behind bars and many others either exiled or silenced—Kavalionak emphasized that Belarusians continue to hold onto hope that one day free and fair elections will be held in their country. “Even though there are no protests visible on the streets of Belarus, it does not imply that people are not resisting,” she concluded.