INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Jailed Belarusian opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova, who helped lead historic pro-democracy protests in her country in 2020, is in
her role in the mass protests that erupted before and after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed a disputed election
condemned as politically motivated.Last week Babaryko's press service said Kolesnikova, who headed his 2020 election campaign before his
arrest, had been put in solitary confinement on the grounds of "impolite behavior." It added that her lawyer had been denied access to her.A
to a sixth presidential term.Kolesnikova was part of a trio of women who led historic demonstrations against Lukashenko and was the only one
of the three who did not flee the country.She was arrested and imprisoned following her stunning refusal to be deported from Belarus in
conviction.Western countries have slapped several sets of sanctions on Minsk and Lukashenko, who has heavily relied on support from Moscow
to stay in power.Russia used Belarus as a launching pad for its military operation in neighboring Ukraine on Feb
24, though the Belarusian army has not officially taken part in fighting on Ukrainian territory.AFP contributed reporting.
