Belarus activist resists authorities’ push to leave country

A leing opposition activist in Belarus was held on border Tuesday after she resisted authorities’ attempt to force her to leave country. Maria Kolesnikova, a member of Coordination Council created by opposition to facilitate talks with longtime leer President Alexander Lukashenko on a transition of power, was detained Monday in capital, Minsk, along with two or council members.

Early Tuesday, y were driven to Ukrainian border, where authorities told m to cross into Ukraine. Kolesnikova refused and remained on Belarusian side of border in custody of Belarusian authorities. Two or council members, Ivan Kravtsov and Anton Rodnenkov crossed into Ukraine. authorities have applied similar tactics to or opposition figures, seeking to end a month of demonstrations against re-election of Lukashenko in a vote protesters see as rigged,

Sviatlana Tsikhauskaya, main opposition challenger to Lukashenko, left for Lithuania a day after Aug. 9 vote, under pressure from authorities. On Saturday, a top associate of Tsikhauskaya, Olga Kovalkova, moved to Poland after authorities threatened to keep her in jail for a long time if she refused to leave country.

Belarusian prosecutors have opened a criminal probe against members of Coordination Council that opposition activists set up after election to try to negotiate a transition of power. Several council members were arrested and some ors called for questioning.

Last week, Kolesnikova anunced creation of a new party, Toger. She said move will help overcome current crisis, but party founders’ call for constitutional changes has stunned some or opposition council members, who argued that it could divert attention from main goal of getting Lukashenko to step down.  

(Im Credit: AP)