Belarus: Kolesnikova tore up passport to avoid forced transfer to Ukraine

(Patria) – Prominent figure of the Belarusian opposition Maria Kolesnikova tore up her passport at the border of Belarus with Ukraine to avoid forced transfer to Ukraine.

This was confirmed by Anton Rodnenkov and Ivan Kravtsov, also members of the Belarusian opposition, who were forced to leave Belarus and cross to the Ukrainian side.

However, Kolesnikova resisted and prevented the forced departure from her homeland by tearing up her passport and throwing it out of the car window.

A member of the opposition coordination council formed with the aim of negotiating with long-time President Lukashenko on the transition of power, Kolesnikova was arrested on Monday in Minsk. On Tuesday, she was transferred to the border, where she was ordered to cross into Ukraine. Kolesnikova refused and remained on the Belarusian side of the border, under the supervision of local security forces.

Rodnenkov and Kravtsov crossed into Ukraine, Euronews reports.