Belarusian authorities formally imprisoned opposition leader Maria Kolesnikova – the last prominent opposition leader active in Belarus – and charged her with calls to incite a coup d’etat on Sept. 9. Belarusian law stipulates imprisonment for two to five years for this charge. Belarusian authorities abducted Kolesnikova in Minsk on Sept. 7 and failed to expel her to Ukraine on Sept. 8. Kolesnikova previously stated her openness to working with the Kremlin and expressed support for constitutional reforms. Lukashenko may have detained Kolesnikova in order to disrupt Kremlin efforts to undermine Belarus’ sovereignty via constitutional amendments.
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George Barros: Lukashenko begins targeting the Kremlin ahead of meeting Putin
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin (L) speaks with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko during their meeting at the Independence Palace in Minsk on Sept. 3, 2020.
