Belarus opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova 'kidnapped' amid ongoing protests

Belarusian opposition leer Maria Kolesnikova has reportedly been kidnapped by masked men in Central Minsk as authoritarian leer Alexander Lukashenko continues to crackdown on protesters. Citing, witnesses, Kolesnikova’s campaign team said that political activist was pushed into a minibus by unidentified men in black. According to local media reports, three members of her team have also gone missing.

Kolesnikova, 38, is one of a famous trio of women who challenged election results last month but only one who remained in country even after growing security threat. main opposition leer Svetlana Tikhavskaya fled country citing safety reasons. Tikhavskaya fled to neighbouring Lithuania and Veronika Tsepkalo fled to Poland amid bloody street protests over contentious election results.

Kolesnikova sits on Coordination Council which was set up to oversee peaceful transfer of power to Tikhavskaya but reports of her kidnapping have caused major concern regarding Belarus political crisis. Minsk police are yet to confirm reports of kidnapping and critics believe that regime is doing everything possible to stop council from working efficiently.

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Called on United Nations

Tsikhauskaya h contested election results and demanded Lukashenko hand over power, accusing leer of poll rigging triggered. Last week, she urged United Nations to intervene in ongoing crackdown on protesters using all mechanisms possible, saying a "nation cant be host to one man's thirst of power." 

In August, UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that Britain does t accept results of Belarusian presidential elections which declared incumbent Lukashenko as winner. Amid efforts of Belarusian authorities to suppress massive protests against Lukashenko, Raab highlighted need for an urgent independent probe into “flaws that rendered election unfair, as well as grisly repression that followed.”

“ world has watched with horror at violence used by Belarusian authorities to suppress peaceful protests that followed this fraudulent Presidential election. UK does t accept results,” said Raab in a statement. 

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(With inputs from ncies)