- Title: Jailed Belarusian protest leader Kolesnikova wins European rights award
- Date: 27th September 2021
- Summary: MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - JULY 17, 2020) (REUTERS) THEN HEAD OF CAMPAIGN FOR DETAINED BELARUSIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VIKTOR BABARIKO, MARIA KOLESNIKOVA (RIGHT), THEN-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, SVIATLANA TSIKHANOUSKAYA (MIDDLE) AND WIFE OF THEN-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VALERY TSEPKALO, VERONIKA TSEPKALO (LEFT) CAMERA OPERATORS FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) THEN HEAD OF CAMPAIGN FOR DETAINED BELARUSIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VIKTOR BABARIKO, MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, SAYING: "We have united our efforts for a common goal." FLOWERS ON TABLE MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - JULY 19, 2020) (REUTERS) PEOPLE AT RALLY CHEERING / TSIKHANOUSKAYA COMING ON STAGE TOGETHER WITH KOLESNIKOVA AND VERONIKA TSEPKALO SUPPORTERS CHEERING TSIKHANOUSKAYA, KOLESNIKOVA, TSEPKALO ON STAGE SUPPORTER FILMING WITH PHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) THEN HEAD OF CAMPAIGN FOR DETAINED BELARUSIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE VIKTOR BABARIKO, MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, SAYING: "All the thousands, tens of thousands of people who have started supporting us and help up in heading towards our common goal in the last two months. Thank you very much!" KOLESNIKOVA ON STAGE / PEOPLE CHEERING, CHANTING (Russian): 'FREEDOM' MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - AUGUST 6, 2020) (REUTERS) CROWD CHANTING AND CLAPPING IN FRONT OF ELECTIONS SIGN POLICEMAN WATCHING JOURNALISTS FOLLOWING KOLESNIKOVA / CROWD CHEERING MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - AUGUST 14, 2020) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) THEN HEAD OF BELARUSIAN POLITICIAN VIKTOR BABARIKO'S CAMPAIGN, MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, SAYING: "We - Belarusians - have unbelievably difficult work to do because we have to build all the basic democratic instruments that we had not had. We need new courts, a new parliament, everything should be based on principles of freedom and democracy." MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - AUGUST 16, 2020) (REUTERS) PEOPLE HOLDING MASSIVE RED AND WHITE BANNER AT OPPOSITION RALLY VARIOUS OF RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS OPPOSITION LEADER, MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, SAYING: "The former president must resign!" (CROWD CHANTS (ADDRESSING LUKASHENKO): 'GO AWAY!') MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - AUGUST 17, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WORKERS AND PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF THE MZKT (VOLAT) PLANT, CHANTING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS OPPOSITION LEADER, MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, SAYING: "(CROWD CHANTS (Belarusian): 'LONG LIVE BELARUS!') Belarusians! You are unbelievable! I am proud that I can be here with you now and to support you! And you support us! I love you!" CROWD CHEERING AROUND KOLESNIKOVA, HUGGING HER MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - AUGUST 18, 2020) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF BELARUS OPPOSITION COORDINATION COUNCIL ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) BELARUS OPPOSITION LEADER, MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, SAYING: "I believe that we are not naive. I believe we are dreamers who managed to fulfill our dream. And what you see - the wonderful Belarusian people - this is our victory." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS MINSK, BELARUS (FILE - AUGUST 27, 2020) (REUTERS) CAR PARKED BEHIND FENCE ON ROAD MARIA KOLESNIKOVA, WALKING AFTER INTERVIEW IN INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE KOLESNIKOVA THANKING FOR SUPPORT, CLAPPING, AND WALKING AWAY
- Embargoed: 11th October 2021 14:32
- Keywords: Alexander Lukashenko Belarus opposition Belarus protests Maria Kolesnkova Nobel Prize
- Location: STRASBOURG, FRANCE / MINSK, BELARUS / UNKNOWN LOCATION / INTERNET
- City: STRASBOURG, FRANCE / MINSK, BELARUS / UNKNOWN LOCATION / INTERNET
- Country: Belarus
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA003EWHWSAV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Jailed Belarusian opposition leader and activist Maria Kolesnikova on Monday (September 27) won the ninth Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize which honours outstanding civil society action in the defence of human rights.
The €60,000 prize was presented on the first day of the autumn plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.
Kolesnikova's sister Tatsiana Khomich received the award on her behalf. In September Kolesnikova was sentenced to 11 years in prison for her political activity, leading to an outcry from Western countries.
Kolesnikova, 39, was one of the leaders of mass street protests against Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko last year, together with Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya and Veronika Tsepkalo.
The three women, all political novices, joined forces to front last year's election campaign against Lukashenko after higher-profile male candidates were barred from standing.
Lukashenko faced the biggest protests of his 27-year rule last year but weathered them with support from Russia.
The prize, named after the late president of the Czech Republic, "celebrates those who, with bravery and ingenuity, unmask the lie of dictatorship by living in truth," according to the foundation's website.
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