Belarusian opposition member Maria Kolesnikova charged with endangering national security

(Patria) – Prominent Belarusian opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova, who has been in custody since last week, will be charged with endangering national security, Belarusian authorities announced.

The Investigative Committee of Belarus, representing the domestic security service, shared this information on its official Telegram channel.

- In accordance with Article 361, investigators today charged Maria Kolesnikova with making calls for action through media and the internet with the aim of endangering the national security of the Republic of Belarus. She is in custody. The investigation is ongoing, the statement reads.

According to this article of the law, Kolesnikova could face a prison sentence of two to five years.

Kolesnikova was taken into custody last week after an incident at the border with Ukraine, where she tore up her passport to avoid being forcibly expelled from the country.

Her lawyer announced that she might report the security service for 'kidnapping' and 'death threats'.

Maria Kolesnikova is a member of the Coordination Council, formed by Belarusian opposition groups with the intention of negotiating with President Alexander Lukashenko.

Kolesnikova led the campaign of Viktor Babariko, a candidate who was detained even before the August elections, and later joined candidate Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who did not accept the election results due to the belief that the elections were rigged. She left Belarus out of fear for her own safety, but still acts as an opposition leader.