Belarus Activist Maria Kolesnikova May Ask for Pardon After Years in Prison

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Maria Kolesnikova, a Belarusian opposition activist, is thinking about asking President Alexander Lukashenko for a pardon after being in prison for more than four years. Kolesnikova, 42, is serving an 11-year sentence in a prison near Gomel.

Her father, Alexander Kolesnikov, spoke about this possibility after he visited his daughter in the prison’s hospital. It was the first time in over 20 months that he was able to see her. He said she seemed to be in “relatively normal condition” during their brief meeting.

Kolesnikova, a former musician, became a well-known figure in Belarus’ pro-democracy movement. Her arrest and long imprisonment have drawn criticism from around the world.

Her family is still waiting for more news about her decision to ask for a pardon, but it’s a sign that Kolesnikova may be considering a change in her approach after years of resistance against the Belarusian government.