Maria Kolesnikova

Maria Kolesnikova is a prominent Belarusian opposition activist. She was imprisoned in Belarus and has now been released as part of a deal where the US lifted sanctions on Belarus. This release involved 123 political prisoners, including Kolesnikova and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ales Bialiatski. The release follows months of rapprochement between Washington and Minsk, with talks reportedly involving a US special envoy. Kolesnikova's release is significant as she is a leading figure in the Belarusian opposition movement. Her freedom, along with other political prisoners, marks a potential shift in Belarus's political landscape and its relationship with the US. The released prisoners have been seen reuniting with loved ones in Ukraine and Lithuania.